Fernando Alonso Leaves McLaren
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Double world champion Fernando Alonso has agreed to split with the McLaren-Mercedes team by mutual consent.
In a widely expected move, the 26-year-old Spaniard has agreed terms to terminate his agreement with the Woking squad after just one season of his three-year contract.
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41226
What a difference 2 years make.
Nico Rosberg and Heikki Kovalainen are among the rumoured replacements, while Alonso has been linked to Renault, Toyota and Honda (there's speculation that Barrichello could be pushed to Super Aguri). -
The best money's on Alonso/Piquet at Renault for '08.
Yes, there's the rumour about Alonso being able to sign for privateer teams only, but I don't buy it. Ron Dennis would never allow his drivers to get away with saying, "I quit", and if he can't say "I fired the bugger" he'd at least want to be able to say that it was by mutual agreement, and both scenarios preclude any limitations on where Fred could go after leaving Woking.
The wild card's in the scuttlebutt that Ross Brawn could be signing up for Red Bull. If that's the case, Fred could want the backing of the guy who made Scummaker look competent, and we could see Mark Webber out of a seat. -
Webbo could move over to Renault instead since Flav manages him and they provide RBR their engines.Originally posted by Gedanken:The best money's on Alonso/Piquet at Renault for '08.
Yes, there's the rumour about Alonso being able to sign for privateer teams only, but I don't buy it. Ron Dennis would never allow his drivers to get away with saying, "I quit", and if he can't say "I fired the bugger" he'd at least want to be able to say that it was by mutual agreement, and both scenarios preclude any limitations on where Fred could go after leaving Woking.
The wild card's in the scuttlebutt that Ross Brawn could be signing up for Red Bull. If that's the case, Fred could want the backing of the guy who made Scummaker look competent, and we could see Mark Webber out of a seat.
I have no idea how Kovalainen will fare head-to-head with Alonso if McLaren pick Sutil instead, Fisichella makes way and Piquet stays in F3/is loaned to another team, but the Finn will probably get on with his job quietly.
I doubt Alonso will sign for either Toyota or Honda since they won't be able to provide race-winning cars. -
Finally, this stuck-up dude is gone.
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Flav: 60% chance Alonso joins Renault
There is a “60 percent chance” that Fernando Alonso will race for Renault next season, according to team boss Flavio Briatore.
Having recently confirmed his split with McLaren, Alonso is currently a free agent and is thought most likely to return to the team with which he won his two world titles.
Briatore has made no secret of his desire to lure Alonso back, and believes he is now closing in on a deal to secure the SpaniardÂ’s services.
“Renault will certainly have different drivers next year,” Briatore was quoted as saying by Italy’s ANSA news agency.
“There is a 60% chance Alonso will be with us.”
Toyota, one of the teams believed to have stirred AlonsoÂ’s interest, announced on Monday that it had signed GP2 champion Timo Glock.
While some doubts have been raised about how watertight Jarno Trulli’s contract is, on the face of it the Glock signing narrows Alonso’s options to Red Bull or Renault – and Red Bull boss Christian Horner predicted earlier this week that the double world champion would return to the Anglo-French team.
“Toyota and Red Bull are also in the race for [Alonso’s services],” Briatore said.
“We have an advantage because we know him.”
Alonso is widely expected to delay his decision until he knows the outcome of the World Motor Sport Council hearing on December 6, where Renault will face charges of illegally possessing confidential McLaren information.
But Briatore claims the team will finalise its 2008 driver line-up imminently.
“It will be decided between today and the day after tomorrow,” he said.
Instead he gave a different reason why a deal has not yet been struck: “When you marry, split up and get back together it is not easy.” -
nico staying at williams
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He has been confirmed at Renault. To discuss his and Nelsinho's chances there, as well as Heikki Kovalainen's and Giancarlo Fisichella's fates, please continue here: http://www.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=296441