Big rumor: Alonso to join Ferrari in 2011

[Alltidxx]

Both Kimi and Massa are solid performers. Massa almost won 2008. Kimi won 2007 and drove the most fastest laps during the 2008 season. Matching up with Schumachers record I think I heard. Anyone can have bad luck and I believe Räikkönen to be a better driver than Massa. Massa is shaky when somewhat behind and during wet conditions. I think both have a pretty solid standing with Ferrari. Even if Ferrari said "hell yeah we'll bring Alonso for 2011" it is still far off in time and much can happen.

 

[mustang245]

Yeah, but there's a big difference between saying that and signing him on a four-year contract what will never come to fruition for another two years ...

With this rumour, the old saying, 'Where there's smoke, there's fire.' comes to mind...

 

[Pepsi0]

This will give me an even bigger reason to hate Ferrari.

 

[Ardius]

This will give me an even bigger reason to hate Ferrari.

Hate? I see no reason to hate either Ferrari or Alonso.
Firstly Ferrari are the F1 team, they exist just for the sport and are the team all drivers want to drive for.
And secondly, Alonso is a refreshing character to the F1 field, I can understand not liking his attitude in some respects, but he's a driver I could easily see driving in the 70s or 80s era just as much as now.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

With this rumour, the old saying, 'Where there's smoke, there's fire.' comes to mind...

And those fires are being lit by Spanish tabloids. We keep hearing of this supposed 'done deal' between Maranello and Alonso, but only from Spanish sources. After Ferrari commented that they aren't interested in having Alonso, news sources like Formula1.com and GP Update stopped reporting them. It's a bit like the British tabloids constantly reporting that Amy Winehouse will be performing the next James Bond theme, even when all the evidence suggests she's in no condition to stand on-stage. The Spanish tabloids want Alonso to drive for Ferrari, probably because he'd be all but assured the World Championship for the third time. But as much as they'd like to influence the team, they have no say as to who Ferrari signs or not. As has been aid, both Raikkonen and Massa are great drivers, and we're no longer living in the age where Schumacher's team-mate was there simply to make up the numbers. If Ferrari have their eye on anybody, I'd say they'd be looking closely at Sebastian Vettel before Alonso.

EDIT: I forgot ... you're the forum's biggest Alonso supporter, aren't you? I was wondering where you'd gotten to. No matter; the Alonso-Ferrari deal won't happen. Ferrari have said they don't want him, and they're not in the business of doing backflips unless they have a hell of a good reason. There may have been a place for him once, back when they favoured one driver from the season opener, but that's no longer the case. If anything, they seem to favour both drivers equally until such time as one of them drops out of the running for the championship. Alonso doesn't work like that, which is one of the problems behind his year with McLaren.

 

[SUPER NUMBBER]

If Ferrari have their eye on anybody, I'd say they'd be looking closely at Sebastian Vettel before Alonso.

This is much more likely, and perhaps much more scary (for Mac fans) because of the long term implications.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

This is much more likely, and perhaps much more scary (for Mac fans) because of the long term implications.

I like to imagne that Hamilton and Vettel are the new Schumacher and Hakkinen (or some other similar combination). We just need the wunderkid in a Prancing Horse. Mind you, both he and Hamilton are about my age, so there's plenty of time for them to sign Vettel up ... I don't think he's going anywhere but up in the sport.

 

[Peter]

Alonso might most likely stay with renault. He's the #1 there and gets paid at renault more than anyone else in F1.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Um, I'm pretty sure Kimi Raikkonen is the highest-paid driver in the sport. I seem to recall reading that he gets somewhere in the ballpark of $50 million, though I may be wrong. If the Finn isn't the most expensive driver, Alonso probably would be, but I think it's Kimi.

 

[Lofasz]

Well, Renault seem to be competitive this year, if the preseason tests are any indication. 9 Days!!!

 

[Blake]

Um, I'm pretty sure Kimi Raikkonen is the highest-paid driver in the sport. I seem to recall reading that he gets somewhere in the ballpark of $50 million, though I may be wrong. If the Finn isn't the most expensive driver, Alonso probably would be, but I think it's Kimi.

Yeah, Kimi is the highest paid driver in the sport by quite a margin.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Yeah, Kimi is the highest paid driver in the sport by quite a margin.

The reason I remember it was because the article I read where they revealed his pay packet also revealed Massa's, and the Brazillian is getting just a fraction of his team-mate's pay. I can't recall exact numbers, but it was something like ten million to Kimi's fifty-one ... though given Massa's championship-challenging performance last year, I wouldn't be surprised if Ferrari were paying him more for 2009. Not that it makes much difference; he was getting a bundle as it was.

 

[Peter]

Um, I'm pretty sure Kimi Raikkonen is the highest-paid driver in the sport. I seem to recall reading that he gets somewhere in the ballpark of $50 million, though I may be wrong. If the Finn isn't the most expensive driver, Alonso probably would be, but I think it's Kimi.

Alonso became the highest paid again, following his return to renault for 2008.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

What's your point? Just because he gets more money than sense doesn't mean he's guaranteed a Ferrari drive. A driver's pay is Secret Teams' Business, and a quick search on the interweb puts Alonso at anywhere between twenty million and sixty million dollars. I also noticed that the ones reporting he earns more as Spanish newspapers ...

 

[SUPER NUMBBER]

Alonso feels a successful season would also bring an end to the constant speculation about him joining Ferrari.

Despite the new contract, it has already led to some circulating the rumour he will move to the Maranello marque in 2011.

With that smile that is now back on his face these days, he added: ''I have been answering this question for four or five years.

''Hopefully this year I can be more relaxed about it, and if we are winning races and fighting for the title, we'll forget Ferrari.

http://planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3213_5067440,00.html

 

[mustang245]

Yeah, Kimi is the highest paid driver in the sport by quite a margin.

Alonso was earning 13 m. Euro, but has now taken a massive cut to about 8.5 m. Euro...