Fernando Alonso Reunites with Renault

As expected by many, Fernando Alonso will be reuniting with Renault - the team which he had won two world champions with in seasons 05 and 06 - after the FIA confirmed that Renault will be subjected to no punishment despite being found guilty of possessing Mclaren's intellectual property.

He will be partnering Nelson Piquet Jr, for the upcoming season.

Fernando Alonso left Renault for Mclaren in the 2007 season. Unfortunately, unlike Kimi Räikkönen who left his former team Mclaren to join Ferrari and won his maiden championship with the Italian team, Fernando Alonso had a stormy relationship with his Mclaren employers and ex-teammate Lewis Hamilton. He had joined the team hoping for a number 1 status, but when Lewis Hamilton started giving Fernando a run for his money with his strong performances, Fernando voiced out his unhappiness.

Mclaren team principal Ron Dennis' vehemence for an equality in the team might have ultimately cost the team the Drivers' championship with the two drivers engaging in draining off track and on-track feud.

Mclaren was also disqualified from the 2007 Constructors' Championship as they were found guilty of possessing Ferrari's technical data and information.

Where's Fernando Alonso Going?

As the news of the release of former 2 times world champion Fernando Alonso broke out, teams are rushing to snap up the Spanish drivers, aside from Fernando's previous team Renault, Red Bull, Williams and even BMW Sauber are reportedly trying to woo him over.

Toyota was also reported to have offered the Spaniard a wonderful offer, but was turned down.

According to AS Daily, a Spanish sports newspaper, Fernando would try to secure a short deal with one of the smaller teams in order to prepare for a transition to Ferrari in the near future, when either Kimi Räikkönen or Felipe Massa's contract is over.

Over at the Mclaren Mercedes camp, where they are now short of one driver, Lewis Hamilton has given some hints on who his future teammate might be. Naming a few candidates like Heikki Kovalainen, Nico Rosberg, Nick Heidfeld and Adrian Sutil, he said that the only prerequisite is that the teammate will have to be a 'team player'.

However, things will have to be seemingly put on hold as everyone waits for Fernando Alonso's eventual decision with bated breath.

Fernando Alonso Out of Mclaren

Shocking news of the season - Fernando Alonso is out of Mclaren.

It was yet another worse-kept secrets of a very messy season. Fernando Alonso has been a long-disgruntled employee of Mclaren Mercedes, right down from the moment when he realised that he would not get to enjoy his status as Numero Uno in the British Mclaren team. Often accusing the team of favouring rookie Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso has surely not made his animosity with his team a secret.

In the Hungarian Grand Prix, he threatened team principal Ron Dennis that he would go to the FIA with the evidences that Mclaren's ex-employee Mike Coughlan had information from Nigel Stepney, if Ron Dennis does not accede to his request of favouring him over his teammate. An incensed Ron Dennis volunteered to call Max Mosley (and he indeed did) to show Fernando that he was ready to see through the ultimatum set by the Spaniard.

Fernando Alonso had another 2 years of contract left with Mclaren, but now he has been ordered to leave Mclaren Mercedes wtih immediate effect. Questions will be raised - where will he go? And most importantly, who would be the teammate of wonder-rookie Lewis Hamilton next season? Williams' Nico Rosberg, Renault's Heikki Kovalainen and Honda's Jenson Button are prospective choices, but it will have to be seen if the teams are willing to let them go.

Three Drivers to go Unpunished for Tyre Error

Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Takuma Sato will all heave a sigh of relief as they are all not penalised for the tyre error committed during Practice 1, where they each used 2 sets of wet tyres instead of a set of wet and a set of extreme weather tyre as stipulated in the regulations.

Each team, Mclaren (Lewis Hamilton), Honda (Jenson Button) and Super Aguri (Takuma Sato) will instead be fined $15,000 euro and have a set of wet tyres confiscated. It is considered a light penalty in light of what could have been if the stewards decided to impose penalties on the drivers instead, considering that Lewis Hamilton would need all the points he can get to ensure that he gets his first Drivers' Championship, with teammate Fernando Alonso 4 points behind, and Kimi Raikkonen a further 3 points back.

Ferrari Extends Felipe Massa's Contract Till 2010

Ferrari has extended Brazilian Felipe Massa's contract till 2010, effectively ending any further speculation of Mclaren's unhappy driver Fernando Alonso's chances of ending up in a Ferrari seat. Kimi Raikkonen, the other Ferrari driver, is currently ia contract up till 2009.

Renault Denies Alonso Links

French team Renault has issued a half-hearted statement denying the reports of a possible return of Fernando Alonso in 2008. Renault issued the following statement: "The team will not comment on the speculation that has appeared in the media,"

"We will announce our drivers for next season when we are ready to do so."

Fernando Alonso Set to Return to Renault in 2008?

Fernando Alonso has reportedly signed a letter of intent to rejoin Renault in 2008, with his exit strategy and contract to be worked out soon.

The Spaniard who is currently driving for Ron Dennis' Mclaren team, is still under contract with Mclaren till 2008, with the option of continuing in 2009. However, his bad blood with team principal Ron Dennis and teammate Lewis Hamilton have quashed any hope of him remaining in the Mclaren outfit next year, with his latest accusation of the team over-inflating his tires on purpose during the Chinese Grand Prix qualifying session so that advantage can be given to his teammate Hamilton.

Toyota, desperate for a good break, has also indicated their interest in the current world champion by offering him "(US) $150 million for a three year deal; a comparable amount of money to that earned by Michael Schumacher at Ferrari towards the end of his illustrious career" as reported by F1-Live.

However, given the promise of the number one status in the Renault team, as well as an enticing 3-year contract and as escape route, Fernando Alonso is more likely to be joining Renault, where he won 2 world championship titles in seasons 2005 and 2006.

Fernando Alonso Quizzed by Italian Prosecutors, Discussed Contract with Renault

Fernando Alonso, who on Sunday claimed that Mclaren over-inflated his tires, has created news yet again as he volunteered information about the Stepneygate incident in a two-hour session with the Italian police.

The driver is not under any investigation, but was apparently interviewed by the Modena Magistrate Giuseppe Tibis as a potential witness to the spy incident. He was quizzed mainly about the email correspondence with test driver Pedro dela Rosa over the Ferrari information given by Nigel Stepney to Mike Coughlan.

Renault meanwhile is hard at work to attract their ex-driver by showing Fernando Alonso the details of Renault's car next year, the R28. Spanish sources claimed the he was involved in a meeting with Renault team boss Flavio Briatore and technical director Pat Symonds for a possible 2 - 3 years contract. Autopista, a Spanish magazine, also claimed that Fernando Alonso's teammate is not likely to be the underperforming Giancarlo Fisichella, who is touted to replace Williams' Nico Rosberg, who in turn will be joining the Mclaren camp in Fernando Alonso's spot.

Ralf Schumacher Set to Leave Toyota

Yet another of the worst-kept secrets of this crazy F1 season has been confirmed by the man himself - Ralf Schumacher, after 3 years of less-than-impressive performance, has decided to part ways with the Toyota team.

He has yet to announce where he is headed next, with no team having explicitly expressed their interest in the German driver. Ralf said that he would announce his plans at the end of this season, and has also mentioned that money will not be an important factor in his new job search.

Meanwhile, the Toyota team would be on the lookout for a new driver to replace Ralf. Nico Rosberg, from the Williams-Toyota team, looks to be a prospective candidate, but Toyota would face a fierce competition from Mclaren and any other team eager to land their hands on this rising star who has proven himself worthy (and pipped to be as good as Lewis Hamilton by team boss Sir Frank Williams) more than often this season.

But of course, now everyone will hold their breaths to see what reigning world champion (soon we probably wouldn't be using it on him anymore)Fernando Alonso would do. Renault has supposedly offered him a contract with a likely promise of the Number 1 status in the team (and probably partnering Heikki Kovalainen). If Fernando Alonso choose to take that, Renault would have to buy out the remaining 2 years of his contract with Mclaren, and Giancarlo Fisichella could be left without a job and Mclaren would be looking for a partner for Lewis.

It's all one big driver-movement circus.

Alonso to Ferrari, Massa to Toyota?

As the season nears its end, the usual speculation in the drivers' market is at full force. The latest rumour, sparked by a report on British's News of the World, Fernando Alonso, the disgruntled Mclaren driver, is said to have already negotiated a contract with Scuderia Ferrari for the next season. One thing for sure - Fernando Alonso is not likely to be staying in Mclaren. But a move to Ferrari and a partnership with the Iceman Kimi Raikkonen? Definitely this would result in a lot of sparks off and on the track as we all know beyond the Iceman façade, Kimi is not one to mince his words.

But to make way for the Spaniard, rumour has it that Ferrari's current driver Massa will be making a move to the Toyota team. According to the Daily Mail, Massa has already been engaged in preliminary talk with the Japanese team. Toyota has been reportedly fed up with the underperforming Ralf Schumacher, so they would definitely be on the lookout for a new driver. Massa, on the other hand, could possibly be worried about his peril position after Jean Todt's possible retirement at the end of this season for the return of Ross Brawn. Massa, who is currently managed by Jean Todt's son Nicholas, could find himself in unfavourable position if and when Ross Brawn takes over.

Italian Grand Prix 07 - Mclaren 1-2 despite tumultous week

In the home grand prix of Scuderia Ferrari, Mclaren managed a 1-2 finish, and enjoyed the honour of being the Highest Scoring Constructor for this grand prix.

Earlier, before the qualifying had started, Italian police called upon the Mclaren camp and served 5 writs to top management of the Vodafone Mclaren-Mercedes Team. Those served included team boss Ron Dennis, Martin Whitmarsh, Jonathan Neale, Paddy Lowe and Rob Taylor - all who were the key figures in the design and strategy of the Mclaren team. It all leads back to the white powder found on the cars of Ferrari drivers Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen a few days before the Monaco Grand Prix, which sparked the spy-scandal of Nigel Stepney - ex-head of performance development for Ferrari, and Mike Coughlan, ex-chief designer of Mclaren.

While Mclaren appeared unruffled by this 'unnecessary visit' (as Ron Dennis calls it) from the Italian police, emotions were frayed and the tv images showed just as much - an emotional Ron Dennis getting a hug from his wife and wiping away tears from his eyes before he went onto the podium to receive the Constructor's Trophy. He denied the rumours of his retirement, which were no doubt sparked by the spy-scandal incident, and his description of this season being "the most extreme" one of his 41 years in F1.

On with the race report, Felipe Massa could only lament on his poor luck as his car failed with what seemed to be possibly transmission problem just after 9 laps. David Coulthard had his front wing disintegrated by what he claimed to be the result of a contact with Renault driver Giancarlo Fisichella.

After the retirement of teammate Felipe Massa, Kimi Raikkonen, who suffered a huge shunt during Free Practice 3 on Saturday, was able to move up to 3rd place. He started from 5th position, but a great start saw him leapfrogging BMW driver Nick Heidfeld into the 4th place. Going on a 1 stop strategy, he had a brief moment in 2nd place, until Lewis Hamilton, in a desperate attempt, braked late in the first turn and overtook Kimi. As described by Kimi in the post-race conference, he was not able to hold up his neck during braking after the shunt on Saturday, thus affecting his performance during the later stages of the race.

Fernando Alonso then proceeded to win the Italian Grand Prix with ease, while breaking many tifosi* hearts. Lewis Hamilton completed the 1-2 victory by Mclaren in 2nd place, the lone Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen taking third spot. A delighted Nick Heidfeld took the 4th place, teammate Robert Kubica 5th (can anyone separate these two BMW drivers?! Lol!), a strong show from Williams driver Nico Rosberg got him a 6th place, while Renault driver Heikki Kovalainen took the 7th spot with Honda driver Jenson Button completing the top 8 drivers.

*Tifosi - italian word for sports fans. An affectionate term used to call the Ferrari fans in F1 context.