Alonso at McLaren in 07!(merged)

[enemy-ace]

WOW!
The Kimi to Ferrari rumor must have some validity. Why else would RD work this deal for Alonso?

[Kicking-back]

Potentially so he can partner Alonso with Raikkonen - so that if Kimi wins the 2006 title, McLaren can begin the Vodafone era with the only two World Champions on the grid in their team.

[newoutsider]

Alonso & Lewis Hamilton for 2007

mark my words

[312T4]

Kimi in Ferrari was clear already, it will be JPMif he does well in 2006 beside Alonso for 2007.

[Draven]

Originally Posted by enemy-ace

WOW!
The Kimi to Ferrari rumor must have some validity. Why else would RD work this deal for Alonso?

Raikkonen and Alonso, considered to be 2 of the best in F1 with years left to give.
Ron (like any team manager who could afford to think about it) would love to have them both togther at the team, and as importantly not at other teams.

[Kicking-back]

Kimi going to Ferrari would be an act of total stupidity - the Scuderia's glory days are gone for a long time to come

[Hein]

Well then! Just when I thought I saw it all - this happens!

I would have never expected this so early, when I read there is a chance I thought the papers just needed to sell more copies.

I stand corrected.

[312T4]

KB, I agree with you. The point is that the deal KR signed with Ferrari for 2007 was signed last year...
Ron Dennis has done everything possible to catch Fernando because he already knows he will loose Kimi.

[slicktoast]

Wow! This news has really cranked up the rumour mill. And the mind games start even earlier. Is Renault off to LeMans with Michelin, again?

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

Kimi going to Ferrari would be an act of total stupidity - the Scuderia's glory days are gone for a long time to come

But are they? We don't know that yet, although it is more likely now than it has ever been.

It's no more strange than moving from Renault to McLaren.

[Draven]

Originally Posted by 312T4

KB, I agree with you. The point is that the deal KR signed with Ferrari for 2007 was signed last year...
Ron Dennis has done everything possible to catch Fernando because he already knows he will loose Kimi.

I know it's been said for a while now, Kimi to Ferrari 2007, but has anyone heard any more about it to give it more substance. I'm not saying it wont happen, but I'd like to hear more info.

[312T4]

I cannot take any proof Draven, but if you look back it was April when I have reported Kimi to Ferrari.
I wouldn't tell if I wasn't sure and will update if something change between Ferrari and Kimi, but I can assure a 1st signature was put black on white by Kimi already in 2004.

[Draven]

We'll I will take your word for it, but as a Mclaren and Kimi fan , I'm very sad that the opertunity to have a Prost/Senna style driver paring at Mclaren again will be missed. Altough id Jenson Button has shown anything it that contracts are not always final.

[dcp2685]

My thoughts on this sudden announcement is that we will see Micheal finally call it a career.

McLaren will have JPM and Alonso while Ferrari will have Kimi and Massa. Renault? Two open seats? Albers? Kovalainen? Interesting.

[Knowlesy]

Yer, could be Kimi-gate coming up.

Like Button-gate, only with incomprehensible mumbling and psycho-babble.

[Knowlesy]

Albers at Renault will never happen!

[Draven]

Massa to go from Micheal to Kimi as a team mate. Frying pan to Fire, Ouch.

If it is Alonso and JPM at Mclaren, Juan will have had his chance to prove himself against 2 of the best in the business as team mates.

[Nismo]

newey has left, so will mclaren be in a decline? ie the way williams have been since 97? food for thought...may be a bad move.. kimi might just be off to ferrari now newey has gone and mercedes has a reputation for poor engines

[Knowlesy]

McLaren seemingly have a design commitee going on so they shouldn't be too affected by Newey leaving. Still, it's a blow all the same and a big test.

[Kirk]

This is mind boggling. Ron Dennis paints a simple enough picture in his statements but surely there must have been a lot going on behind the scenes. If not then, certainly now. There willl be some interesting negotiations leading up to '07. The media speculation will be rampant with dozens of new and old rumours surfacing and resurfacing over the next year or so. I may as well speculate now: Renault is seriously contemplating departing from F1 and in the event they do not repeat last year's achievments, they're as good as gone. At least that is how Flavio sees it.

[312T4]

If it is Alonso and JPM at Mclaren, Juan will have had his chance to prove himself against 2 of the best in the business as team mates.[/QUOTE]

I can't wait!

[Knowlesy]

Alonso and JPM have fairly similar styles. Could be interesting.

[rdjones]

Originally Posted by slicktoast

Is Renault off to LeMans with Michelin, again?

That has crossed my mind aswell, it worth remembering that Peugoet will back at Le Mans in 2007.

[esorniloc]

Can Renault pull out of F1 before the end of 2007? Doesn't the CA mean they stay in till the end of 07?

[Super Tourer]

Originally Posted by Kirk

This is mind boggling. Ron Dennis paints a simple enough picture in his statements but surely there must have been a lot going on behind the scenes. If not then, certainly now. There willl be some interesting negotiations leading up to '07. The media speculation will be rampant with dozens of new and old rumours surfacing and resurfacing over the next year or so. I may as well speculate now: Renault is seriously contemplating departing from F1 and in the event they do not repeat last year's achievments, they're as good as gone. At least that is how Flavio sees it.

I think there is doubt over Renault's long term commitment to F1, since the original plan was rubber stamped, the CEO of Renault has changed.

The new CEO is not thought to be an F1 fan and has a reputation as a fearsome cost cutter. In some of the reports I have read he has insisted that he needs to see a direct link between their F1 program and increased car sales. I don't think that brand image and reputation values alone will substitute.

In many ways the fact that Renault has sealed the double could hasten their exit. A pragmatic CEO could take the view that the only way is down, therefore the sensible plan is to make as much marketing capital from the success now and then exit. In any event it's getting much tighter at the front of F1 now and it's unlikely that any one team will dominate for several years on the trot like Ferrari did.

Should Renault depart, it will of course further weaken the GPMA and add power to the argument that manufacturers 'real' commitment to F1 extends until the date of their next board meeting....

Of course Renault may well stay in F1 for the long term, however you have to question why they didn't look to extend Alonso's contract on the back of the 2005 championship success.

There is another matter to consider, Briatore is FA's manager and team boss of Renault, one would assume that he would know very well what Renault's long term plans are, so it would be strange for him to move their star driver to McLaren if they were continuing, equally why would Renault let him go, only perhaps if they 'knew' it was likely they wouldn't have a car to put him in after 2007?