Alonso joins McLaren

Status
Not open for further replies.
A

Apex

Contributor
Alonso agrees to join McLaren
World champion will join British squad

Fernando Alonso sent shockwaves through the Formula One world on Monday morning when it was announced he would join the McLaren squad for the 2007 season.

Alonso secured the drivers’ world championship this season and was expected to remain with Renault past the expiry of his contact at the end of next year.

However, McLaren, in a major coup, tempted the highly skilled Spaniard to make a surprise switch.

“To become part of a team with such a desire to succeed and passion for performance is a dream come true for any Formula One driver,†Alonso said in a statement.

“I'm very excited about 2007 and the fantastic opportunity to drive for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.

“It will be a new beginning for me and a tremendous challenge and from what I have heard about this exciting new Partnership there is something to look forward to.

“Obviously I will be sad to leave Renault but sometimes possibilities come along which are just too good to miss.

“I'm pleased that we are able to make this announcement already now as it will allow my current team and I to focus 100 per cent on defending the World Championships next year.â€

Making the news even more of a surprise is the fact that Alonso is managed by Renault team principal Flavio Briatore.

Briatore will also leave the team when his contract expires next season, however it was expected that he would sign Alonso up to a long-term deal.

The move will only act to increase recent speculation that Renault will exit the sport at the end of the 2007 season.

The uncertainty could have influenced Alonso’s decision with the marque’s cost-cutting CEO Carlos Ghoson tipped to be formulating an exit plan.

Uncertainty also surrounds McLaren’s new-look 2007 driver line-up with either Kimi Raikonen or Juan Pablo Montoya now certain to leave the squad.

Raikkonen has long been linked with a move to Ferrari at the end of his current contract – again in 2006 – so his exit would be no surprise.

Insiders at the team also suggest there is some unhappiness with the form of Montoya so his exit is also a possibility.

Ron Dennis, McLaren Team Principal, says both drivers are still an option and that talks over contract renewals are still ongoing.

“We are in discussions with our current drivers' Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya regarding the 2007 season,†he said.

“Both Juan Pablo and Kimi are extremely talented, professional and competitive Formula One drivers and they have and will continue to concentrate on our joint challenge for the Championships.â€

On the signing of Alonso, Dennis said:0 “Its great that our strong belief in the strength and competitiveness of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes package has been further endorsed by the World Champion.â€

“We always make it clear that we want to be the best and the only way of achieving this objective is by attracting the best people, the best drivers and the best sponsors.

“To be able to announce Vodafone as only McLaren's third title partner in more than 30 years and Fernando's employment within only a few days is fantastic news for the team, our Partners, Formula One and the fans.â€

Despite the excitement surrounding the announcement, the parties will have to wait over 12 months before they can work together.

Alonso will defend his world champion status in a Renault next year, with Dennis and McLaren hell bent on toppling the Spaniard and his team.
Click to expand...

Source: F1 Central

Related Rumours:
1) Kimi to join Ferrari in 2007
2) Michael to retire after 2006 (or to join either Redbull or McLaren)
3) Renault to leave F1 after 2006

Your thoughts plz. :ohyeah:
 
That's a great move, mclaren is always ahead in terms of innovativeness & cutting edge technology.

They are starting to dominate once again & i think for next couple of years drivers from mercedes stable are going to win the championship, unless ofcourse ferrari & michael have something to say about it :)

renault, sad to see them go :(

p.s - if kimi is joining ferrari, it's a good move too. its going to be dog fight between mclaren's & ferrari. as for schumacher retiring its just rumours ;)
 
damn if kimi joins ferrari..

then it may be as well that schumi comes with mclaren :P evens itout haha
 
Bloody Ferrari Fans! Kimi ought to stay! That no talent Columbian ought to ship his derrier back across the atlantic where continue to race in circles!
 
DarkNight said:
That no talent Columbian ought to ship his derrier back across the atlantic where continue to race in circles!
Click to expand...

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: I agree.... I hate Juan Pablo.

And well, Alonso to McLaren is cool!!! And now, I only hope that Michael wins 2006 and then retires so that in 2007, we have a dream team at Ferrari...

Kimi Raikonnen(Finland)

Valentino Rossi(Italy)

That would be AWESOME!!!
 
^^ forget abt valentino rossi..

i don think he's coming to race in f1. he's better at 2-wheelers...

but u never know...;)

kimi is a good possibility if he leaves mclaren...

if kimi gets a good deal at mclaren, we mite have alonso and kimi at mclaren

but i don think its a good idea to have 2 championship contenders in one team.
 
QuickFire said:
Related Rumours:
1) Kimi to join Ferrari in 2007
2) Michael to retire after 2006 (or to join either Redbull or McLaren)
3) Renault to leave F1 after 2006

Your thoughts plz. :ohyeah:
Click to expand...

i would be prompted to be believing in all the three rumours as all the changes being planned for formula one it may be the line up of news to look out for.

if this happens 2007 first race in melbourne will be the most open race for drivers to compete and that will the things to go.

BTW a little off topic but any one here follows A1 grandpix where india is prforming horrible.
 
Renault isn't going anywhere.

I wonder how all this will affect alonsos' chances for the wdc next year, renault certainly wouldn't want mclaren to take away anything big. Look how they treated trulli in 2004 when he was doing better than alonso.

btw Michelin is out for good in 2008, unless the single tye manufacturer rule is removed.
 
wots up wid our karti boy??

btw rossi is highly unpredictable..but determined....renault leavin f1 is crap..i don thnk itll happen btw thanks fer the update keep the news cmin
 
karti boy had 2nd testing and he owned everyone. faster than the current Williams drivers. he will have final testing soon.
 
World champion Fernando Alonso's newly unveiled McLaren deal is for three years, not counting an optional fourth formula one season, to include 2010.

The F1 grapevine is also whispering that the 24-year-old's switch from Renault next year will almost certainly double his annual retainer, bringing his haul from $12m (US) to about $24m.

But some estimates, for example of London's authoritative 'Times' newspaper, put Alonso's yearly bill at up to $37m.
Click to expand...

Source: F1 Central

add to that..i don think michael is coming for mclaren..

if ferrari fails to improve...schumi will retire at the end of 2006 season.

raikkonen at ferrari is a real possibility though mclaren is trying hard to keep him for 2007 and beyond.
 
Well, Renault leaving F1 is not crap. Coz French manufacturers are not very keen on these events. Even Citroen and Peugeot were very seriously planning to quite at the end of this year from WRC. But now, one of them has decided to come back in 2007. Peugeot is leaving WRC for good this year.

Citroen are taking a break and will be back in 2007. They decided very late to remain in WRC. So, they dont have any work started for 2006. That is why they will work whole of next year and be back in 2007.

And Kimi belongs at McLaren. More so than that maniac JP. But as a Ferrari supporter, I hope Kimi comes to Ferrari in 2007.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom