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.

Renault to Attend WMSC Hearing

Renault has been named the latest accuse of the spying incident on Vodafone Mclaren Mercedes.

In the earlier hearings of the spying incident between Ferrari and Mclaren, in which Mclaren was punished and stripped off all their points in the Constructors' Championship, Renault was also mentioned in the investigation results done by Mclaren. While they were not investigated in the earlier stages, they are now being called forth to attend the hearing in front of the FIA World Motor Sports Council (WMSC) on the 6th of December.

According to the official statement released by the FIA, Renault is called to the hearing based on the suspicion of having "unauthorised possession of documents and confidential information belonging to Vodafone McLaren Mercedes". Supposedly, a former Mclaren team member had passed several CDs filled with technical information of Mclaren to Renault.

Over in the Mclaren camp, the MP4-23, which is the 2008 car of the Mclaren F1 team, has began to be subjected to scrutiny by the FIA officials to ensure that the design is legal (and not in anyway based on the technical information that they had from the Stepneygate incident). The results of the FIA's findings will be published on 7th December.

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.

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.

FIA Ready to Investigate Renault

Renault, which had recently been dragged into the spy espionage by team Vodafone Mclaren-Mercedes which was found guilty of breach of sporting rules, might be investigated by the FIA if Mclaren manage to produce substantial evidence against them.

Renault team boss Flavio Briatore however has insisted that the case brought forward by Mclaren against them was not related to the high-profiled 'Stepneygate'.

FIA president Max Mosley has already gotten into contact with Mclaren team principal Ron Dennis regarding their evidence against Renault, and has promised to take action against the French team if the evidence produced is damning enough. Ron Dennis on the other hand, has decided not to say anything to the press until the investigation has been carried out.

Renault Part of Spy Scandal?

In the latest development of the spy-scandal involving Ferrari and Mclaren, the Woking-based team has indicated to the FIA that rivals Renault should be scrutinised for certain undisclosed matters.

Flavio Briatore, team principal of Renault, has denied of any problems with his team. However, he did not have much to worry about as the FIA has told Mclaren that whatever they were reporting about Renault had nothing to do with the hearing this Thursday - which was to be about the spy scandal between Ferrari and Mclaren.