Formula One news: 'Alonso-Ferrari announcement possible at Monza' - GPUpdate.net Formula One



The Spanish media has raised speculation that a deal which has been struck between Fernando Alonso and the Ferrari team may be revealed at September's Italian Grand Prix. With the former double World Champion strongly linked with the team for the past two years and Monza a popular venue for Ferrari announcements, the silly season starts here.

As 2005 and 2006 Champion Alonso left McLaren at the end of a controversial 2007 season, in which the Spaniard very publically fell out with British team-mate Lewis Hamilton, the former has been robustly linked with the Scuderia and holds a get out clause on his Renault contract to leave the French team at the end of this season.

As Spanish media agency Diario AS has pointed out, the Italian Grand Prix is often the scene of commercial statements for Ferrari with regards to the following year, with Alonso rumoured to be joining the team - as is Spanish bank Santander, as title sponsor. Reports place the Asturias-born pilot as being contracted to Ferrari until 2014, with the weekend of 12-13 September at Monza highlighted as when the news could be delivered.

Diario AS also continued to question - in the event of Alonso moving across to the Italian team - which of the outfit's current drivers would be giving up his seat? The places are currently filled by 2007 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen and Felipe Massa, runner-up by one point to Lewis Hamilton last year.

 

Who will leave then? Kimi or Felipe?

 

Kimi to Mclaren?

 

that is the question isn't it? drop a champion or the guy who lost the championship by a point?

many think kimi will just retire, he seems to have accomplished what he set out to do and may not be as motivated anymore. i have even heard he may switch to WRC but i find that to be unlikely.

if this rumor pans out though, it will be good to see alonso in a proper car again.

 

If Ferrari really wants to make room for Alonso, they'd let Kimi go first. While I'm not a big fan of the Spaniard, I think he'd do wonders for Ferrari in both in terms of making it to the podium, and possibly more importantly, developing the car faster.

 

why would you assume that? kimi is a world champion with ferrari...that counts for a lot with the scuderia. massa's advantage is his management. they are both very proficient drivers but kimi is the natural talent whereas massa is the developed talent. remember kimi came straight from formula renault! (formula renault cars have 190HP) that is the first step up after karting and he only had 23 races under his belt when he graduated to F1. he is a phenom in the motorsports world.

 

I assume that because Ferrari knows just as well as the rest of us that Kimi's focus isn't in it this season (or last season for that matter). He just doesn't seem to be producing results as consistently as Massa has been lately. Kimi is tremendously talented, but only when he tries. I don't think we've seen him trying to hard since he won the WDC.

 

Kimi is not committed. They need to dump him.

 

I would bet my last dollar Massa gets the cut.

Kimi is a World Champion folks. Don't forget that.

 

this is all conjecture. sometimes cars are made that suit one drivers style more than the other or are not comfortable in their dynamics for various reasons. (recall JV's last year) kimi hasn't really come to grips with the F60, but then again the car is crap. i tend to agree that he doesn't seem to be as motivated but he has always seemed apathetic so you can't say one way or the other for certain. i, for one, hope he stays in F1 even if it means he isn't in a red car. he is simply too talented, his skill would be wasted anywhere else.