TODT: ALONSO MAY COME TO FERRARI AFTER 08

Jean Todt insists that a 'zero percent' chance exists of Fernando Alonso joining Ferrari for 2008.

But the Maranello based team's boss is now not as adamant as he has been in the past about the Spaniard never driving a red car some time in the future.

"People have said that while I'm at Ferrari, Alonso can't come. That's not true," Todt told the Spanish newspaper El Pais.

"I never said that. It wouldn't be right. I am employed by Ferrari. If at some point I knew Ferrari was interested in signing Alonso, I'd say okay. I wouldn't oppose it. My principal interest is Ferrari."

World champion Alonso is openly unhappy at McLaren this year, and Bernie Ecclestone revealed apparent insider information earlier this weekend when he predicted a sabbatical in 2008 before a move to Ferrari the year after.


Todt's latest comments also follow speculation of his falling out with Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo, who is reportedly keen to unite the Prancing Horse with F1's youngest ever world champion.

Todt admits that he was unimpressed with Alonso before he joined Minardi in 2001. Reportedly, the Spaniard reached a verbal long-term deal with Ferrari before he dropped it and signed for Flavio Briatore.

"I didn't like the way he acted with me," Todt said. "He's got a lot better. He's strong physically and mentally. As a driver I have great respect for him so I say 'never say never'."

Source GMM
CAPSIS International

 

Todt remains open about F1 future

By Jonathan Noble Sunday, September 30th 2007, 12:54 GMT


Ferrari team principal Jean Todt insists he remains open about his future in Formula One, although has suggested that any decision to remain at Ferrari is not strictly his.

The Frenchman, who has been at the helm of the Maranello team since 1993, has in recent weeks been linked with both retirement and a possible switch to Toyota.

When asked about the speculation regarding his future at the Japanese Grand Prix, Todt said that he could see himself remaining in F1 for up to another five years - although did not completely commit himself for that length of time.

"I could stay not all my life in Formula One, but why not the next five years? I will stop when I feel I'm happy to stop, which is a fantastic privilege because I can decide that I can stop now if I want and I could live the way I live until the end of my life with the people I love. Or, I can more forwards.

"Of course, talking about Ferrari, the decision is not only depending on me, because Ferrari... you know it's the same when we speak about Alonso: 'Todt does not want Alonso.' It's stupid.

"Ferrari does not belong to me…Ferrari belongs to Fiat and there is a president, (Luca di) Montezemolo, so a decision of this importance is not something I decide myself. But I give, of course, my opinion and my opinion has probably some influence on the final decision."

Amid rumours of possible increased political tensions within Ferrari, Todt admitted that his future at the team may not entirely be in his hands.

"Of course, some people could decide that they are not interested having me in the company any more which is something that I already mentioned…It doesn't belong to me, but then I could still decide to do other things.

"That's quite an easy situation, in a sense that at the moment, there is no official decision about the future and when the proper time arrives, which can be sooner or later, then we will announce it."

Todt also reiterated that there was no chance of world champion Fernando Alonso switching to the team next year.

"No, zero percent, zero percent, zero," he explained. "We have two fantastic drivers, Kimi, Felipe, we are very happy with them, and they are under contract.

"As I said before, we will respect a contract for a guy cleaning the floor so you can imagine that I will respect a (drivers') contract."