Team-BHP - Alonso to Ferrari? EDIT: Now confirmed

Quote:

Originally Posted by LandCruiser (Post 1479232)

4 long years wasted for Alonso after 2 WDCs and when he is in prime!

Most of it is his own doing. If all had gone well, he would have been winning races with McLaren now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by suman (Post 1479277)

Any chance of him making it to Force India?

Not possible. FI cannot pay him like top teams do. Only chance there would be to get some sponsorship along (like Santander), but that is not going to happen either since Santander are sponsoring Ferrari from next year. May he will have to drive for free in some midfield team next year and then hope to move to Ferrari, if Ferrrari are still considering him in 2011. A lot can happen in one year, so at the moment Alonso is not going to get a drive in a top team for next year.

Caubet, director general de Renault: "Echaremos de menos a Alonso, pero él también nos echará de menos". europapress.es

This is Renault's general director, Francois Caubet, confirming that Renault will part company with Alonso next season. He's certainly leaving then and the only logical destination is a certain scarlet team. The link is in Spanish so expect English confirmation soon.

According to Germany’s Sport Bild, Ferrari’s new sponsor, Spanish-based Santander, that will move from McLaren to the Maranello team next year, is willing to offer the Woking-based outfit (McLaren) up to 25 million Euros to accepts Ferrari’s current front man, World Champion Kimi Raikkonen.
The move would make room for Spaniard Fernando Alonso in Ferrari. According to an earlier report by Mirror.co.uk, Kimi Raikkonen is willing to move, if Ferrari pays him his 2010 salary, as the Finn has a contract with Ferrari for 2010.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumblebee86 (Post 1504421)

According to Germany’s Sport Bild, Ferrari’s new sponsor, Spanish-based Santander, that will move from McLaren to the Maranello team next year,

They're not moving from McLaren. They're already committed to sponsoring both. But I think its fairly certain that Kimi will be driving at McLaren (Whitmarsh point blank refused to deny it yesterday). Alonso will then be at Ferrari

autosport.com - F1 News: Ferrari set to confirm Alonso for 2010

Ferrari = Massa + Alonso
McLaren = Hamilton + Raikkonen
Renault = Kubica + someone

Quote:

Originally Posted by McLaren Rulez (Post 1504452)

I think it is some kind of arrangement to let Kimi drive for McLaren. Otherwise why should Santander sponsor McLaren now that they are with Ferrari?

Rumors are that Santander have bought Kimi's contract and are paying for his shift to Mclaren . As of 2010 they are title sponsors for Ferrari but will also most probably sponsor Mclaren . Kimi meanwhile wanted to stay at Ferrari and so is / was rightfully creating legal , monetory and contractual hurdels .
Alonso has confirmed at the press confrence at Singapore Gp that he has already finalised his team for next year .
With BMW out , Renault without Flavio Redbull with confirmed driver lineups , Mclaren an impossiblity Alonso can only head in one direction and that ofcourse is Santander Ferrari F1 team .
Similarly for Kimi who has confirmed he wants to race in 2010 the two options are Mclaren and Brawn .

It is only a matter of time before Ferrari unveils Alonso as their No.1. Santander must have known Ferrari's intention ages ago and therefore signed on as sponsors.

Brawn seem to have sorted out their sponsors for next year, but can they afford Kimi? Mclaren would be a good bet then. Kovaleinen has barely troubled Hamilton in the last 2 seasons. Things should get interesting, should Kimi switch to Mclaren.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilentEngine (Post 1504561)

I think it is some kind of arrangement to let Kimi drive for McLaren. Otherwise why should Santander sponsor McLaren now that they are with Ferrari?

Apparently because their stature in the UK is really improving thanks to McLaren. Nonetheless, kimi is almost certainly coming back to McLaren.

Source :- f1-live.com

Ferrari to announce Alonso ahead of Suzuka

Fernando Alonso will this week be confirmed as a Ferrari driver for 2010 aand beyond, according to reports.
Auto Motor und Sport claims the deal will be announced by the Italian team on Thursday at the Suzuka circuit in Japan.
"It is a possibility, but it is not guaranteed," team boss Stefano Domenicali was quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph in Britain, when asked if Ferrari's next driver line-up will be known in Japan.
The newspaper said lawyers were working hard in Singapore last weekend on the finer details of Kimi Raikkonen's release from his 2010 contract. The Finn will reportedly return to his team of 2002-2006, with McLaren and Ferrari's mutual sponsor Santander involved in the financial details of the move.

Team boss Martin Whitmarsh was giving little away on Sunday, but he did admit that it is his job to field the best drivers possible, while admitting he has been disappointed with Heikki Kovalainen. "We regard Kimi to be one of the biggest talents in the sport," he told Auto Motor und Sport.
It is believed that Hamilton is not keen on the prospect of teaming up with Raikkonen. "At the moment I'm very happy with how things are in the team but we have to see what happens," he said.

Quote planetf1:
But while Haug may be open to the idea of Raikkonen rejoining McLaren, Hamilton and his father Anthony are reportedly against the idea with Hamilton stating he would be happy to keep Heikki Kovalainen as his team-mate.

What is this guy like? His dad runs the team?! I cant wait to see Kimi return and break his knuckles.