Alonso to announce today, Ghosn throws wrench into the works
The motorsport press is reporting that Fernando Alonso will announce sometime today whose car he will be driving next season. The two-time world champion was recently released from his contract with McLaren-Mercedes, with whom he had a very tumultuous last season. Rumors have been circulating the paddock as to where he'd be heading as a newly free agent, but Flavio Briatore, his former boss at Renault, has made no secret of the door he's left open and the light he's left on for Alonso to come back home.
Briatore's plans, however, could be stalled by an unexpected intervention from his boss, Carlos Ghosn. Although the Renault-Nissan CEO rarely appears to stick his nose into the day-to-day running of the racing team, sources quote him as saying Renault would not give Alonso a one-year ride. The champion has stated that he'd only sign with Renault for a single season, fueling speculation that he could be headed to Ferrari in 2009, despite Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa doing a great job for the Scuderia and being under contract through 2009 and 2010, respectively.
Briatore is reportedly eager to accept Alonso's terms, but according to Ghosn, "It's three years or nothing." Stay tuned for more news.
[Source: F1-Live.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
James 1:50PM (11/20/2007)
I agree with Ghosn. Why let someone (Alfonso) who has shown no loyalty to any team use Renault as another stepping stone towards Ferrari?
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Carlos 2:23PM (11/20/2007)
I'm an Alonso fan and I agree, he needs to stay in one place for a while. His image needs it, for one, especially if he wants to be known as a good car developer.
Can't fault him for leaving Renault the first time though - when he signed with McLaren, Renault was looking like they were going to drop out of F1 for financial reasons. They couldn't guarantee him a seat.
zach 1:56PM (11/20/2007)
every part of this story could be correct, yet i'm still not sure i see why anybody would think that ferrari would have a great need to sign him. it's not as though alonso would be a good sport about having to compete with kimi to be the number 1 driver.
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Geoff 2:46PM (11/20/2007)
Kimi's contract is up in 2009.
wally 2:13PM (11/20/2007)
Way to go Ghosn !!!!!
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Killenmedpirogen 3:20PM (11/20/2007)
Can´t they for once just build what they draw?
Give us this space shipieee thingy.
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Cameron 4:06PM (11/20/2007)
Fernando to Honda to replace Rubens?
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adrian 4:47PM (11/20/2007)
Ghosn is the daddy afterall.
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Hugo 9:36AM (11/21/2007)
Yeah, it's a brilliant move by Ghosn. He sent Alonso in the arms of McLaren two years ago by not showing commitment to his F1 team, and looks like he's phasing him out of Renault for the second time.
Carlos really hates to win Formula 1 championships.
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