Fernando Alonso returning to Renault in 2008
It's widely being reported now that ace F1 driver Fernando Alonso has signed a letter of intent to rejoin Renault, his former team that he left this year to drive for McLaren-Mercedes. That, as we all know, hasn't turned out so well, with Alonso and his fellow teammate Lewis Hamilton constantly talking smack about each other or not talking to each other at all. The signed letter of intent is reportedly a preamble for a three-year contract lasting from the 2008 season through 2010 and worth over $100 million. The deal hinges, however, on whether or not Alonso can get out of his current contract with McLaren that extends through the 2008 season with an option for 2009. If Alonso and Lewis keep acting like squabbling siblings, then McLaren may be more than happy to unload the champion to restore peace and order.
[Source: F1-Live.com, photo by Clive Mason/Getty]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
testa di cazzo 2:07PM (10/11/2007)
as a renault fan, i don't even know if i want him on my team after the way he backstabbed us two seasons ago...
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John R 2:17PM (10/11/2007)
I think that picture succinctly captures Alonso's attitude and personality.
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ello 2:22PM (10/11/2007)
Although he is a good driver, Alonso is a sore loser, he can't bare the fact that Hamilton is a better driver and makes up stories that F-up the McLaren team chemistry. And to top it all of, the guy should have been more severly punished for the Ferrari espionage fiasco, should have been suspended at least one year (if it was up to me I would ban the guy for lifetime as it takes teams years of research and development to perfect their technologies not to mention the amount of money that goes into it, and that guy got it for for far less and used it)
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Vivek 2:25PM (10/11/2007)
He will now bitch and moan there when somebody else comes along? What's new?
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Vivek 2:25PM (10/11/2007)
He will now bitch and moan there when somebody else comes along? What's new?
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LBuzzer 4:02PM (10/11/2007)
If I were Nico Rosberg, I'd beg my way to that vacant McLaren seat.
Hamilton and Rosberg on the same team? Yikes! Modern younger version of Prost/Senna superteam.
Alonso and Kovaleinen will make a decent team at Renault.
Now that this is settled, there'll be a slew of drivers switching seats and signing contracts.
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Dustin 2:35PM (10/11/2007)
Michael Schumacher was a whiny jerk as well, and everyone loved him. It goes with the job, apparently.
Anyways, so much for the Autoblog report of Alonso going to Ferrari. I guess I'll believe this when I see it.
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tpp 5:55PM (10/11/2007)
Schumacher was NOT loved by all, not at all. He was a very polarizing figure. There are plenty of people who absolutely hate his guts for all of his stunts on and off the track. I'm one of them.
But Alonso is no Schumacher. Not now, or ever. He's just a dude in a fast car that's more reliable than the other dude's (Kimi) car.
Cameron 2:36PM (10/11/2007)
I think the big question is who will take his seat at McLaren? Who really wants to be in Hamilton's shadow?
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Cypher09 2:50PM (10/11/2007)
The question is will Alonso's replacement get equal equipment? Tho my money is on Rosberg getting the vacant seat.
Joshua 3:58PM (10/11/2007)
Best picture ever! Definitely worth 1000 words. Congrats Autoblog.
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frondeur 3:47PM (10/11/2007)
The first question is: if Alonso is getting equal treatment from McLaren, why would he leave for a team which is struggling right now?
The Second Question is: why would McLaren want to loose one of its two amazing drivers, who would have won them a Constructors Championship had it not been for the illegal actions of one employee (especially considering that without Alonso or Hamilton Ferrari would have won the constructors easily)?
I strongly believe this is all BS, propagated by lazy and uncreative "journalists" who have nothing better to do than speculate idly.
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Brad 4:08PM (10/11/2007)
That is what I figured would happen. You knew Fisichella would not be back at Renault next year and they have been very quiet about naming a possible replacement. Let Alonso go back to Uncle Flav. Maybe he cat put the pacifier back in Alonso's mouth so he will quit whining so much.
Rosberg would be a good fit at McLaren.
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TuuSaR 4:30PM (10/11/2007)
Nico doesnt want to go to Mclaren. Heikki is not going to be number two for Alonso thus not being in the same team.
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BILL 5:02PM (10/11/2007)
It is my considered opinion that Alonso has been the problem - not Hamilton. All Hamilton has done is stuff Alonso up his own ass by beating him on the track. Alonso can't stand it and must engage in the most egregious behavior
possible. Why Ron Dennis put up with it is a mystery to me, so it must be a failing of Dennis to think it is a good plan to have his drivers engaging in this kind of BS. Alonso should have been released many weeks ago and left to sit on the sidelines while the season continued without him.
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Tagg 9:57PM (10/11/2007)
Dennis put up with it because he didn't want to admit he was wrong. It was Dennis who brought him into McLaren wassn't it?
Hugo 5:26PM (10/11/2007)
Hamilton has been heavily favored by McLaren. Extra laps in Q3, full access to Alonso's setups, not being punished at all after making comments that cost McLaren being investigated... He's Dennis' boy and he knows it.
Without all those little things, plus the aid from FIA (who runs to chastise Alonso at every opportunity, yet forgive Hamilton's dangerous manoeuvering in Japan), Hamilton would not be the championship leader.
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Philthy 9:53PM (10/11/2007)
Er... come back to reality. The FIA has actually protected Alonso and warned McLaren against releasing Alonso or not giving him their full support on the track after his little tattle-tale exercise. You can think up as many conspiracy theories for Hamilton beating Alonso as you'd like but finishing on the podium in his first 9 races while Fernando's results were inconsistent probably has something to do with it, and you can't "rig" that kind of record. Plus why would McLaren fork over a huge amount of cash for a top driver just to try and sabotage his results? Having one great driver in Lewis is nice, but having two great drivers is nicer, no matter how much they squabble.
Richard 7:57PM (10/11/2007)
My take(s)
1. Fred (Alonso) left Renault for the simple reason that Carlos Goshn took over with a reputation for cost cutting and wouldn't commit to Renault staying in F1. By the time he had, Ron Dennis had swooped in and stolen him.
2. You knew Fred wouldn't fit @ McLaren as soon as the season began and his hair was cut short (look at a picture of Coulthard now, vs. when he was working for Uncle Ron and you'll see an amazing revitalization in his look). Hell, even Kimi talks more than he used to now that he is gone!
3. McLaren has brought along Hamilton since he was - like 14. They have millions invested in him and want him to win it all...right now.
4. Hamilton lost his way at the beginning of the last third of the season - when Alonso was allowed to no-longer share his set-up data with the Brit.
5. Alonso has not acted well this year but, you know, he's a Latin, not a Brit. He has passion for what he does and wears it on his sleeve. He should have gone to Ferrari, where, I think, his temperament would have meshed with the Italian team. He'll go back to Flav and that's good for both of them.
6. Ron has to let him out of his contract. Ron is - like - 62 and a consummate professional. He doesn't need any more of this sh*%.
7. Bernie (Ecclestone) said, last week, that Fred has done nothing for F1. I know that the Renault sales in Spain made significant gains and I bet F1 viewership did too. But, you know, Bernie is a subject of the Queen and he wants a fellow subject to wear the F1 crown. Remember all the Hoopla about Jenson being the next ONE? These guys want one of their own (a Brit) to win easpecially after years of domination by the Italo/ German axis that was Ferrari and Schumi...like the French are salivating for one of their own to win LeTour post Lance Armstrong.
8. Schumacher - definitely not whiny - someone @ Harvard Biz School should do a case study on what he brought to the Scuderia to turn it totally around. Easily the best - ever...after Fangio.
'Nuff said.
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Logik 8:53PM (10/11/2007)
I agree with 80% of the stuff you said.