Third Title or Bust: Fernando Alonso
Former champion Fernando Alonso is sure he will not retire until he adds a third title to his tally.
“I’m more or less convinced about not leaving F1 without becoming world champion again,” the Renault driver told the Spanish radio network Cadena SER.
Alonso, 27, won the drivers’ titles with the French team in 2005 and 2006, but last year endured a miserable season with McLaren, and in 2008 struggled early on with Renault.
And although hopeful for the R29, he refuses to rule out a future with F1’s most famous team, Ferrari.
Asked about the continuing links with Maranello, Alonso said coyly: “A quick answer to that question would not be the right answer.” He is scheduled to test at Jerez next month, and then get at the wheel of the 2009 car late in January.
Ok, so Alonzo won’t talk, I’ll do it for him.
The Spaniard’s dreams of joining the legendary Italian team seemed to be in ruins when Ferrari announced they had signed Kimi Raikkonen for another two years.
But there has been a change in the sponsor landscape.
Spanish bank Santander will leave a deal with McLaren to switch to The Scuderia, the firm having originally come on board with the Woking-based-outfit in 2007 – Alonso’s sole year with that team.
“Santandar will become Ferrari’s sponsor as of 2010, this is one thing that is certain,” said bank’s president Emilio Botin in Diario AS.
On Spain’s favourite F1 son, he added: “Alonso is the best driver in the world and we would love to work with him again. Unfortunately this is not our call though.”
But it is Alonzo’s call and the path is clear once Kimi’s latest contract ends.
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Nando wins the drivers title with Renault in 2009 (anything is possible with the new rules next year)and leaves them AGAIN, to go to Ferrari in 2010, only to play second fiddle to Felipe Massa or Kimi. McLaren Deja Voodoo all over again!
….and shouldn’t your title be “Third title OR bust:” ?
oops! Title changed.
He had better win WC’s with Renault as I’m pretty much convinced he has JV’d himself with other top teams.
Mind you, with Kimi admitting he didn’t really try as hard as he could have last season, maybe Ferrari will take a look at Alonso.
Next year should be interesting, as the teams have been thrown several technical curve balls. I’m wondering, however, which of the top teams will screw up the regs & KERS. Something tells me BMW may be the dark horse. Also, if Adrian Newhey pulls off one of his little magic tricks, Red Bull could be the other joker in the pack.
I’m leaning your way.
MeThinks Red Bull may be the not so dark horse. As a side note, have you seen what amounts to the “opposite side” of Alonzo’s brain?
It says he’s “pondering retirement” because of the rules changes in 2009, specifically a single engine supplier.
So which side of his brain stem is lying? Or confused?
Or looking to make some fool offer him more cash than he’s worth to keep him in F1?
As long as a major sponsor like Santander is willing to put funding into a team and “ask” that team to giver “their” driver a ride, guys like Alonzo will be a fixture in F1. And deservedly so, at least in his case. He had the talent to win at McLaren, too bad he didn’t have the team principal’s 100% support.