Rumors for now
Alonso signs for Ferrari
http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns20397.html
The word in the F1 paddock in Monte Carlo is that Fernando Alonso has just inked a deal to drive for Ferrari in 2010.
No confirmation is expected for a year, and there may be denials of any arrangement, as there would obviously be some serious knock-on effects for other parties in the F1 paddock.
Alonso went to Renault this year after splitting with McLaren unexpectedly at the end of last season. It was a stop-gap solution for the Spaniard, although it was dressed up as the big return to the team with which he won his two World Championships. This year the team's performance has been rather disappointing and Fernando has scored just nine points, while Nelson Piquet has failed to score and the team is languishing in seventh place in the Constructors' Championship. Unless there is a dramatic improvement soon the team will have no hope of finishing the year better than fourth in the championship and there have been rumours for some time that ING may be looking around at other opportunities.
Fernando has made no secret of the fact that he will consider other offers if they are sensible. He has been angling for a ride at Ferrari for some time. It may seem that is a rather premature move, but these days in F1 deals are being done much earlier than used to be the case. Kimi Raikkonen's deal with Ferrari, which began in 2007, was first reported as being done as early as October 2005. Alonso's 2007 deal with McLaren was announced in December 2005. Thus now would be the time that deals are being done for 2010.
Alonso deal done?
http://www.crash.net/motorsport/f1/news/163777-0/alonso_deal_done.html
Despite recent comments suggesting that the Spaniard would not be welcome at Maranello following his acrimonious departure from McLaren, Ferrari may yet have clinched a deal to bring Fernando Alonso on board the season after next.
That is the rumour doing the rounds in Monaco just hours before qualifying for the biggest race of the 2008 season - although, as with a lot of whispers in Formula One, the detail remains sketchy while no-one is prepared to confirm or deny the speculation.
Naturally, neither Ferrari or Renault was prepared to comment on the rumour, which first appeared on grandprix.com, but Alonso has made no secret of the fact that he wants to be back in a race-winning car next season, and that does not look likely where he is at the moment.
Although it would appear that the Spaniard would have to stay put at Enstone for another season while various contracts are sorted out, it now looks likely that the much-hyped relationship with Ferrari could be on the cards.
It is widely understood that the double world champion has a get-out clause in his Renault deal that would allow him to walk away should the team not finish in the top four in this year's constructors' championship, but both Felipe Massa - the most likely victim of any switch - and Kimi Raikkonen have deals with Ferrari for next season.
Not that Massa is the necessarily the one that could be replaced by the Spaniard, for Raikkonen has made often said that he does not intend to be in Formula One long term, and a second - or third - world title could be the impetus for him to bow out at the top. The Finn currently heads the 2008 standings, but Massa is making a play for the title for a second successive year, and taking the crown would no doubt add to the Brazilian's value at Maranello.
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