F1: Will Fernando Alonso Go To Ferrari Next Year?

[CVT]

Hmmm.... this speculation makes sense to me.....

If JT is displaced by RB's return to the Scarlet Team, then JT's son, who is the manager of FM is in an ackward or difficult situation. That is why they are laying their cards on the table with JT's pronouncement that he is still very active and FM, talking with the Toyota team.

Also, it is JT who is not interested with FA, not the Ferrari Team, because FA bolted out of their gentlemen's agreement some years ago. So, if JT's out then FA may be welcomed in the Ferrari camp with open arms... I am wondering how KR will take this seat change next year....

RS definitely is out of Toyota, and FM replacing him makes sense.... Another open piece of the puzzle is who will replace FA in the McLaren? PDLR or our controversial JPM making his comeback?....

3909:trampoline:


from www.paddocktalk.com (and other sites)....

F1: Will Alonso Go to Ferrari ?

Speculation is rife that Fernando Alonso could be about to drop a bomb on the formula one silly-season.

Felipe Massa was spotted by paddock observers meeting with Toyota officials at Spa-Francorchamps, sparking rumours that he might need to vacate his Ferrari seat for 2008.



The tale ties in with fresh speculation that Jean Todt - whose son Nicolas manages Brazilian Massa, 26 - is increasingly under pressure to keep his top job at Ferrari, and also Toyota's reluctance so far to confirm a teammate for Jarno Trulli in 2008.

It has long been suggested that reigning world champion Alonso's most likely destination, if he leaves McLaren after a single unhappy season, is his former camp at Renault.

But the Ferrari gossip, raising the prospect of the Spaniard's pairing with Kimi Raikkonen next year, is now gathering strength, including in the pages of the British newspaper The Daily Mail.

"One stumbling block exists, however," the report read. "Would Ferrari be willing to buy out the remainder of Alonso's contract with McLaren, believed to be worth at least (US) $20 million?"

[diesoline]

the last sentence is utterly hilarious! :naughty2:

http://planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3213_2752162,00.html

Fernando Alonso is reportedly off to Ferrari next season in a £20m per year deal, while Felipe Massa is moving to Toyota.


Alonso's position at McLaren has become more untenable with the FIA's confirmation that it was the Spaniard's emails that resulted in the team being stripped of their 2007 Constructors' Championship points and handed a £50m fine.


And with Ron Dennis admitting that his relationship with his driver is "extremely cold" and that Alonso's unhappy with the team's equality policy, the double World Champion's time at McLaren appears to be running out - and fast.


In fact, according to the News of the World, Alonso has just three more races as a McLaren driver having already agreed to join Ferrari.


According to the tabloid, the Spaniard has agreed a £20 million a year deal to join Ferrari for 2008, leaving Felipe Massa out in the cold.


Massa, though, is already making plans for the future with the Daily Mail claiming that he 'opened preliminary negotiations with Toyota last weekend.'


The newspaper went on to say that Massa's decision to leave Ferrari could be based on team boss Jean Todt's pending (and unwanted) retirement in order to make way for Ross Brawn's return.


The Ferrari tech director, who is nearing the end of his year-long sabbatical, is expected to return to the Scuderia next season as team boss. And should this happen it could place Todt's son, who is also Massa's manager, in an uncomfortable position.


'Massa is acutely aware that if Jean Todt, as expected, loses an impending internal power struggle within Ferrari, he will be instantly vulnerable as he is managed by the Frenchman's son, Nicholas,' the Mail surmised.


On a personal note, P-F1 believes Alonso would do well at Ferrari... after all he already knows all about the car and how to set it up.

[CVT]

+1 there bro.

What a spin to the scenario-hungry F1 fans.....

FA surely knows how to 'balance' his options....

3909:trampoline:

[Kanut]

mclaren can afford to lose alonso 'cause they hit the jackpot with LH.

[allen_the_great]

mclaren can afford to lose alonso 'cause they hit the jackpot with LH.

imo, mclaren's loss is a rival team's gain (be it ferrari or renault) so i don't think ganun lang kabilis sabihin na mclaren can afford to lose alonso. just imagine the pairing of KR and FA pagnagkataon. kakain ng alikabok si LH nyan. yes, mabilis si LH but kulang pa siya sa experience when compared to seasoned veterans like KR and FA. the most ideal scenario is LH learn the ropes from FA. too bad they're like water and oil- they just don't mix.

[Memphis Raines]

At this point, I think that he will do anything to stay away from Lewis :eviltongu

[Kanut]

imo, mclaren's loss is a rival team's gain (be it ferrari or renault) so i don't think ganun lang kabilis sabihin na mclaren can afford to lose alonso. just imagine the pairing of KR and FA pagnagkataon. kakain ng alikabok si LH nyan. yes, mabilis si LH but kulang pa siya sa experience when compared to seasoned veterans like KR and FA. the most ideal scenario is LH learn the ropes from FA. too bad they're like water and oil- they just don't mix.

of course it is.just look at how things are in mclaren right now.its hard to think ron dennis retaining the same drivers for next season.especially after FA got dragged into the mess mclaren is at.but then again,FA+KR wont be any different from FA+LH..