Renault hopes Alonso returns
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Renault's engineering director Pat Symonds is hopeful that Fernando Alonso will eventually return to the team after his time at McLaren.
After four seasons and two world championships with Renault, Alonso left for McLaren at the end of last season.
In an interview to be published in the August issue of F1 Racing magazine (on sale 24 July), Symonds was asked if Renault could or world take the Spaniard back.
"Would we? Yes. Could we? I hope so," Symonds responded.
"Having said that, I bet heÂ’s glad heÂ’s not with us this year since we havenÂ’t come up with a car heÂ’d want to drive.
"He is a damn good driver though and weÂ’d happily have him back.
"IÂ’d love to think that one day he might come back."
Symonds believes that Alonso may find himself looking back fondly on his Renault days.
"I havenÂ’t really spoken to Fernando since the season started so I canÂ’t answer that question with any knowledge," he said when asked about the likelihood of Alonso returning.
"But I can speculate like anyone else, so yes I donÂ’t see why not.
"Particularly when youÂ’re young, you often think that the grass is greener the other side of the fence, donÂ’t you?
"That is true of all kinds of employees, not just drivers.
"I know engineers who have left us to join other teams who have then come back saying it wasnÂ’t quite what they thought it would be.
"And in F1 terms Fernando had only ever driven for Minardi before driving for us so he probably looked at outfits such as Ferrari and McLaren and thought, 'hmm, there is a lot more money there...'"
But Symonds acknowledged that the past uncertainty about how long Renault was committed to Formula 1 probably influenced Alonso's departure.
"They were strong rumours so I absolutely donÂ’t criticise him for taking the decision to leave," Symonds said.
"But now that he is there, well I donÂ’t know.
"I am sure there are aspects of McLarenÂ’s operation that are a damn sight better than RenaultÂ’s, but there again I hope there are aspects that arenÂ’t as good." - itvf1
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Are they desperate? -
renault seem to be fairing badly after his departure.
that finnish driver is not good enough.
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heikki i think is much better than fisi... he has shone well
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And that rookie of the year, lewis hamilton, OMFG, his results are impressive.
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10 races this weekend... will he make it to the podium again?
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i bet he will.
mcclaren are so consistent this season. -
How come they weren't like that last time har?Originally posted by dragg:i bet he will.
mcclaren are so consistent this season. -
Heikki's driving and racecraft are improving by leaps and bounds, and he is conistently outperforming Fisichella now.