Alonso has signed a 3 year deal with BMW or has he ?
Alonso has signed a 3 year deal with BMW or has he ?
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woof

Original Poster:

8,456 posts

306 months

Sunday 7th September 2008
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F1 : Report - Fernando Alonso signs three year BMW Formula 1 deal E-mail
Source/Credit - GMM
In the buzz of the post-race paddock at Spa-Francorchamps, it was rumoured and reported that former double Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso will switch from Renault to BMW Sauber for the 2009 season and beyond : -

The information was transmitted from the Belgian venue by the Italian television channel Sky, who said the Spaniard's contract could be for a three year period.

The rumour comes just one day after Honda boss Ross Brawn admitted he is also waiting on the 27-year-old's decision, and ongoing speculation that Alonso wants to use his team for next year only as a springboard to a Ferrari seat perhaps in 2010.

Alonso would not be drawn on the reports.

"For weeks I have said I will only consider my future at the end of September. My priority at the moment is to help Renault to fourth place in the constructors' championship," he is quoted as saying by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.





Edited by woof on Sunday 7th September 23:34

Airbag

3,466 posts

225 months

Sunday 7th September 2008
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So, Kubica to Ferrari and Heidfeld and Alonso in BMWs?

woof

Original Poster:

8,456 posts

306 months

Sunday 7th September 2008
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I think Kubica to stay another year with BMW
that's a hell of a team for them next year

Heidfield out - could be the reason why they delayed the announcement of drivers that was due this weekend

Bad PR to fire a driver that just got yr first podium in a x amount of races


hornetrider

63,161 posts

234 months

Sunday 7th September 2008
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BM have already signed up Kubica - it's Heidfield that doesn't have a deal for next year. At least, that's what they said on ITV today.

FourWheelDrift

92,281 posts

313 months

Sunday 7th September 2008
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Heidfeld rumoured to Torro Rosso so I've heard.

skinny

5,269 posts

264 months

Monday 8th September 2008
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i think it would be a real shame to lose heidfeld, imo he's a very good racer and his knowledge on setup and development is priceless. bmw would have lost their way without him, and in points he's very close to his team mate, who has widely been regarded as one of the absolute stars of this year.

but then if you have an option on alonso you have to consider it. not an easy decision!

thunderbelmont

2,982 posts

253 months

Monday 8th September 2008
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Hmmm, interesting.

Would Alonso fit in with the way that BMW work? Could he get whupped by Robert, and throw his teddies out of the pram (again). I can't see them giving their golden boy the second billing, even if Alfonso is a former champion.

As for Heidfeld, I'd thought he'd be signed by the German Navy to captain a new class of U-Boat. He just needs the chunky-knit sweater to match his beard!
Shame for him to go from F1, but he hasn't realy shone much this last couple of years, even if his change to inters this weekend allowed some inspired scything through the midfield to gain a podium.


Jungles

3,587 posts

250 months

Tuesday 9th September 2008
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thunderbelmont said:
Hmmm, interesting.

Would Alonso fit in with the way that BMW work? Could he get whupped by Robert, and throw his teddies out of the pram (again). I can't see them giving their golden boy the second billing, even if Alfonso is a former champion.

As for Heidfeld, I'd thought he'd be signed by the German Navy to captain a new class of U-Boat. He just needs the chunky-knit sweater to match his beard!
Shame for him to go from F1, but he hasn't realy shone much this last couple of years, even if his change to inters this weekend allowed some inspired scything through the midfield to gain a podium.
Heifeld is too valuable to be lost from F1. Another team will take him, I'm sure. If Honda or STR needs a driver, they'll be looking. Same with Renault.

I don't think Kubica will put up being second-class to Alonso. He doesn't seem to be the type. If Alonso has signed on to BMW, I think there will probably be some kind of agreement between the two of them and the team about preferential treatment, etc. They get along well at a personal level, so that's a plus, whereas Alonso and Hamilton didn't get along at all. Furthermore, Alonso's perceived mistreatement at McLaren was exaggerated due to McLaren's long association with Hamilton and the fact that McLaren is a British team. There is no such baggage at BMW: a Swiss-based German team.

Alonso is a strong developmental driver. BMW will find him very valuable indeed.

Edited by Jungles on Tuesday 9th September 01:01

LDNrevs

9,313 posts

232 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
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Update:

F1 Live says

A spokesman for the Spanish arm of the German manufacturer BMW has admitted that Fernando Alonso is in talks to switch to the BMW Sauber F1 team in 2009.

Figures in the Monza paddock over the weekend were careful to play down or sidestep the raging speculation about the Spaniard's future.

But Gigi Corbetta, communication director for BMW Spain, told Spanish radio that talks are taking place.

"And the news of the renewal of Raikkonen (at Ferrari) has accelerated the process," Corbetta is quoted as saying by the Spanish newspaper Marca.

"Now it is necessary to wait until the end of the season."

27-year-old Alonso, meanwhile, confirmed that his future is not due to be clarified before the Singapore Grand Prix in two weeks.

tomTVR

6,909 posts

270 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
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Id love to see Alonso at BMW. Just as long as he could work as a team with Kubica.

haggy

1,955 posts

243 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
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tomTVR said:
Id love to see Alonso at BMW. Just as long as he could work as a team with Kubica.
yes

Cara Van Man

29,977 posts

280 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
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I cant see him being equal with Kubica.

Kubica will blow him away IMO.

SeeFive

8,353 posts

262 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
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Cara Van Man said:
I cant see him being equal with Kubica.

Kubica will blow him away IMO.
No doubt they are both very quick, racey and talented drivers, and I would not like to call it between them - maybe Alonso's experience of winning frequently could just edge it in terms of the temperament required on track - not off it of course.

I was talking to a motoring journo at a hillclimb this weekend who spoke of Kubica doing some work for BMW at Goodwood a while back. Apparently, RK had a quick beemer and was throwing guests around the track in it. Quick wasn't the word! A set of tyres were lasting 4 laps, and he kept pushing the cars so hard, that they broke and they had to wheel out several new cars during the course of the day. Lord March said that he knows Goodwood very well (obviously) and had been around it with a lot of top drivers, but he had never been as scared as he was in the car with RK. Everyone was bricking it in the car apparently.

He asked RK After the event what he thought of Goodwood, which after all that tyre shredding, car breaking effort he pondered for a few seconds and simply said "quite dangerous". yikes

Plug550

1,108 posts

244 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
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Alonso may well have his faults, but I wouldn't think he's completely daft. He thought he would be the No.1 at McLaren, so I very much doubt he'll make the same mistake twice. He'll require the No.1 status (in recognition of his 2 WDC's wink) to be inked in blood. Not sure where that will leave Kubica though, as he's just been re-signed as previously mentioned.

Recent history shows us that contracts are worth too much these days though. For what it's worth, I think it would be a sensible move for Fred, assuming Kubica gets the order of the boot.

Cara Van Man

29,977 posts

280 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
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SeeFive said:
Cara Van Man said:
I cant see him being equal with Kubica.

Kubica will blow him away IMO.
No doubt they are both very quick, racey and talented drivers, and I would not like to call it between them - maybe Alonso's experience of winning frequently could just edge it in terms of the temperament required on track - not off it of course.

I was talking to a motoring journo at a hillclimb this weekend who spoke of Kubica doing some work for BMW at Goodwood a while back. Apparently, RK had a quick beemer and was throwing guests around the track in it. Quick wasn't the word! A set of tyres were lasting 4 laps, and he kept pushing the cars so hard, that they broke and they had to wheel out several new cars during the course of the day. Lord March said that he knows Goodwood very well (obviously) and had been around it with a lot of top drivers, but he had never been as scared as he was in the car with RK. Everyone was bricking it in the car apparently.

He asked RK After the event what he thought of Goodwood, which after all that tyre shredding, car breaking effort he pondered for a few seconds and simply said "quite dangerous". yikes
The guy is in the top 2 or 3 at the moment. He's made Heidfeld look ordinary and NH is no slouch.

FourWheelDrift

92,281 posts

313 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
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FourWheelDrift said:
Heidfeld rumoured to Torro Rosso so I've heard.
And after Monza he must have his fingers crossed it's true.

Kam125

398 posts

231 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
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I dont see why Alonso is soo keen to get out of Renault (or maybe he is not, and its all hype, as he has yet to say much about it).

2 WDC with Renault, they suit his style, number one staus, loved, well paid, and can are improving very fast?

Honda- no point
BMW- Very good team, but do they suit him?
Renault- Very good team, suit him, and know how to win WDC.

As for Nick H- I rate him very much, and would be dissapointed to see him go to a non-front running team.

Kam

carter711

1,849 posts

227 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
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Kam125 said:
Renault- Very good team, suit him, and know how to win WDC.
Not this year they don't!

MM2200

264 posts

225 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
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What was it Clarkson said about M3 BMW drivers?

RacerMDR

5,582 posts

239 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
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no way would i ever choose Alonso of Loyal Heidfeld.

Alonso's conduct at Mclaren was outrageous - and as such, a non team player would not be employed.

my personal opinion!

Edited by RacerMDR on Tuesday 16th September 14:26