Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Officially Official: Fernando Alonso signs with Ferrari F1 for three years]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/30/officially-official-fernando-alonso-signs-with-ferrari-f1-for-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/30/officially-official-fernando-alonso-signs-with-ferrari-f1-for-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/30/officially-official-fernando-alonso-signs-with-ferrari-f1-for-t/#commentsFiled under: ,



In a deal that seems to have been years in the making, Ferrari has finally made an official announcement: Fernando Alonso will be driving for the Prancing Horse in 2010. Rumors of Alonso going to the team from Maranello started back during the Spaniard's first stint with Renault, but circumstances with driver lineups didn't allow for it. Instead, Alonso went to McLaren for one very unhappy season before returning to France.

Since then, Alonso's fortunes have been mixed and stories of the Italian job have persisted. According to official statements from Ferrari today, an agreement had been reached earlier in the summer for Alonso to move to the Italian team in 2011. However, recent circumstances with the so-called Crashgate fiasco and the departure of team boss Flavio Briatore and sponsor ING have caused the date to be moved ahead a year. Alonso's Ferrari deal runs for three years.

As expected, current driver Kimi Raikkonen will be departing a year before the end of his contract, although his future remains uncertain. Recent rumors have had him returning to McLaren, although earlier this year it was thought he might switch to the World Rally Championship.

[Source: Ferrari | Source Image: Vanderlei AlmeidaAFP/Getty]

Continue reading Officially Official: Fernando Alonso signs with Ferrari F1 for three years

Officially Official: Fernando Alonso signs with Ferrari F1 for three years originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f1falsefernando alonsofernando-alonsoFernandoAlonsoferrariferrari f1ferrari formula 1FerrariF1FerrariFormula1formula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOnekimi raikkonenkimi-raikkonenKimiRaikkonenrenaultrenault f1renaultf1Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:29:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Alonso to move to Ferrari for 2010]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/21/report-alonso-to-move-to-ferrari-for-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/21/report-alonso-to-move-to-ferrari-for-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/21/report-alonso-to-move-to-ferrari-for-2010/#commentsFiled under: , ,



While not exactly confirmed, it seems that past rumors of a switch for Formula One driver Fernando Alonso from his current partnership with Renault to Ferrari still have legs. In an offhand remark made during an interview with BBC Sport, McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh indicated he expects the Fernando to Ferrari deal to take place at the end of the current season. Such a move could potentially trigger a number of driver changes for 2010.

We've heard plenty of reports that current Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen will retire from F1 at the end of 2009, possibly making a switch to the World Rally Championship as a driver for the Fiat rally team. If that's true, expect Alonso to join Felipe Massa - who is currently recovering from a serious head injury - as drivers for the Scuderia.

For Ferrari's part, an unnamed spokesperson tells the BBC, "Things can happen and not happen. But you cannot talk about any Fernando-Ferrari move. We have two drivers with a contract until the end of 2010. We are not under pressure to change anything." Despite Ferrari's assertion, we'll be a bit surprised if Alonso's not wearing red next year.

[Source: BBC Sport | Photo: ph-stop - CC 2.0]

REPORT: Alonso to move to Ferrari for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alonsofernando alonsofernando alonso ferrarifernando alonso renaultfernando-alonsoFernandoAlonsoFernandoAlonsoFerrariFernandoAlonsoRenaultferrariferrari formula 1FerrariFormula1formula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOneFri, 21 Aug 2009 17:58:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Kimi Räikkönen set to retire from F1 after 2009 season]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/18/report-raikkonen-ready-to-retire-after-2009-season/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/18/report-raikkonen-ready-to-retire-after-2009-season/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/18/report-raikkonen-ready-to-retire-after-2009-season/#commentsFiled under: ,



Rumors are heating up that Ferrari Formula One driver Kimi Räikkönen will walk away from the grand prix circus at the end of the 2009 season. If the 2007 World Champion does quit, it would free up his seat for two-time champion Fernando Alonso. You'll recall that there's been talk of Alonso making the jump to Ferrari since well before his single unhappy season at McLaren. However, the circumstances have never quite worked out for him.

According to reports from his native Finland, Räikkönen may move over to full time rallying like so many of his compatriots before him. Kimi has already competed in three rallies this year and is set to do another later this month. Räikkönen still has another year left on his contract and Ferrari may end up paying his €28 million salary in order to keep him out of any other F1 seat in 2010.

[Source: GPUpdate]

REPORT: Kimi Räikkönen set to retire from F1 after 2009 season originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fernando alonsoFernandoAlonsoferrariferrari f1ferrari formula 1FerrariF1FerrariFormula1kimi raikkonenkimi-raikkonenKimiRaikkonenretirementscuderia ferrariScuderiaFerrariSat, 18 Jul 2009 16:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumormill: Alonso could have switched to Ferrari immediately]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/03/rumormill-alonso-could-have-switched-to-ferrari-immediately/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/03/rumormill-alonso-could-have-switched-to-ferrari-immediately/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/03/rumormill-alonso-could-have-switched-to-ferrari-immediately/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Fernando Alonso, who some believe is the best driver in F1, has seen his name in the news a lot these last few days. First, reports popped up that the Spanish racer has signed a (still unsubstantiated) secret deal that would put him in the seat of a Ferrari Formula 1 car beginning when his contract with Renault expires after the 2010 season. According to the latest set of rumors, Ferrari actually wanted Alonso to break his contract with Renault for the upcoming season, but the driver chose to honor his current deal out of loyalty. If true, Alonso would have taken Kimi Raikkonen's seat at Ferrari, racing alongside Felipe Massa. The starting grid for Formula 1 has always been a bit of a roundtable affair, and these most recent rumors would appear to keep the ongoing soap opera going for the next few years, at least.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Rumormill: Alonso could have switched to Ferrari immediately originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 03 Jan 2009 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fernando alonsoFernandoAlonsoferrariferrari formula 1FerrariFormula1formula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOneSat, 03 Jan 2009 17:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Ferrari may leave F1 if standard engine approved]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/28/ferrari-may-leave-f1-if-standard-engine-approved/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/28/ferrari-may-leave-f1-if-standard-engine-approved/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/28/ferrari-may-leave-f1-if-standard-engine-approved/#commentsFiled under: ,



Could one unthinkable action be followed by another? It may be, if Formula 1 heads get their wish for a standard engine for the racing series. Both Toyota, a team near the bottom of the standings, and Ferrari, which is up near the top as it usually is, have expressed their concerns about such a plan, with both entities threatening to pull out of the racing series if such a path were taken. A Formula 1 world without Ferrari is practically unfathomable, as is seeing a Prancing Horse powered by a McLaren/Mercedes powerplant.

Does one knee-jerk reaction deserve another? Probably not. Our guess is that cooler heads will prevail and the FIA will come up with another alternative to lower the costs of competing in F1. This is, after all, the path that the FIA often takes when it comes to making major rules changes. Thanks for the tip, everyone!

[Source: F1-Live, Photo by Vladimir Rys/Bongarts/Getty]

Ferrari may leave F1 if standard engine approved originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f1ferrariferrari f1ferrari formula 1FerrariF1FerrariFormula1formula 1Formula1Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:28:00 EST