http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3213_2958689,00.html

http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3213_2958221,00.html

Who didn't see this one coming....?

:rofl



I think the key was the FIA's conclusion to the Renault investigation.

Nelson Piquet Jr and Alonso. The team has capable drivers. I hope the engineers can design a winning chassis for them. It would be a shame to waste all that talent on an inferior chassis.

:rofl



I think the key was the FIA's conclusion to the Renault investigation.

Nelson Piquet Jr and Alonso. The team has capable drivers. I hope the engineers can design a winning chassis for them. It would be a shame to waste all that talent on an inferior chassis.

:buttrock

or if that was sarcastic...

:nono

:D

Seriously though it'll be good for everyone at Renault to have Alonso back. Someone driven to win and determined to put McLaren in its place I'm sure. He'll push harder than anyone this next year to improve the car. If Piquet is his teammate, despite what Piquet Sr. has said, it will be massive for him to drive with Alonso and if he's smart he'll learn as much as he can from Alonso.

Someone driven to win and determined to put McLaren in its place I'm sure. He'll push harder than anyone this next year to improve the car.

You nailed that. Alonso has something to prove now. He has a Latin temperament that reminds me of Senna at times, and Senna was at his best when he was pissed. Unless he was at Suzuka, that is. :D

Sarcastic? Me? :devillook

So Kovalainen to McLaren then?

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q246/lexdiamonnyc/dancing.gifhttp://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q246/lexdiamonnyc/dancing.gifhttp://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q246/lexdiamonnyc/dancing.gif

$100mill for 3yrs, with an option to get out of the contract after 12months:D
Brilliant move for Alonso!!......got himself a competitive seat(I hope!!), and still has his options open should a seat become available at Ferrari in 2009, I like it!:devillook

called it in July. You guys should really contemplate listening to me.

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q246/lexdiamonnyc/dancing.gifhttp://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q246/lexdiamonnyc/dancing.gifhttp://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q246/lexdiamonnyc/dancing.gif

$100mill for 3yrs, with an option to get out of the contract after 12months:D
Brilliant move for Alonso!!......got himself a competitive seat(I hope!!), and still has his options open should a seat become available at Ferrari in 2009, I like it!:devillook

good move for alonso (even though i loathe him), although it's not like nobody knew this would happen four months ago. he's got a sweet spot, now. funny that he optioned for the 12-month-out, because at the rate things are going it's going to take kimi retiring before a seat opens up at ferrari. that's the only seat that could be available in '09 (since massa is signed through '10), and kimi has already stated that he wants ferrari to be his last team before retirement. i don't believe i've heard kimi wax sappy sentiments towards his employers like he has ferrari this year, all year. montezemolo is more than happy with him, despite his obvious love for fernando's nuts, and unless todt retires this or next year, he'd have to be dead before he'd allow alonso to wear ferrari red. i know alonso would love to think he has an honest shot at ferrari, but i believe the honest truth is... he doesn't. not until after '10, at least. he may as well get comfy at renault.

mr. kovaleinen... welcome to mclaren (my prediction). :buttrock

With Renault's commitment secure in F1 (of which it wasn't in 2005/06) and the loads of money offered to him, there is no reason why Alonso should have rejected Renault's offer. Proven winners the lot of them...

:buttrock

or if that was sarcastic...

:nono

:D

Seriously though it'll be good for everyone at Renault to have Alonso back. Someone driven to win and determined to put McLaren in its place I'm sure. He'll push harder than anyone this next year to improve the car. If Piquet is his teammate, despite what Piquet Sr. has said, it will be massive for him to drive with Alonso and if he's smart he'll learn as much as he can from Alonso.

Or... Kovalainen goes to McLaren and works equally hard now that he has something to prove. Interesting season to be sure.

:rofl



I think the key was the FIA's conclusion to the Renault investigation.



I think so too

Hope all goes well for him. My only fear is that I expect the Renault to be on the pace next year. Then people will say it was all down to Fernando's return.

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q246/lexdiamonnyc/dancing.gifhttp://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q246/lexdiamonnyc/dancing.gifhttp://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q246/lexdiamonnyc/dancing.gif

$100mill for 3yrs, with an option to get out of the contract after 12months:D
Brilliant move for Alonso!!......got himself a competitive seat(I hope!!), and still has his options open should a seat become available at Ferrari in 2009, I like it!:devillook

Are you sure on those numbers? I read somewhere else he's getting 25 million lbs for the first year alone!?!?

That translates to over 50 million a season with currency conversion (although perhaps that number included his marketing potential with the team)?

Either way I'm glad to see him back where he belongs. I bet he'll make Renault a contender again.

Are you sure on those numbers? I read somewhere else he's getting 25 million lbs for the first year alone!?!?

That translates to over 50 million a season with currency conversion (although perhaps that number included his marketing potential with the team)?

Either way I'm glad to see him back where he belongs. I bet he'll make Renault a contender again.

could be different, thats the number reported by Sport Bild, and a few others........guess we won't know until he puts pen to paper and the details are released to the public.........

With Renault's commitment secure in F1 (of which it wasn't in 2005/06) and the loads of money offered to him, there is no reason why Alonso should have rejected Renault's offer. Proven winners the lot of them...

The 12 month opt-out clause is genius.

Sounds like de la Rosa is going to fill the McLaren seat.

Sounds like de la Rosa is going to fill the McLaren seat.

I hope so, goddamn does the man deserve it by now.

The 12 month opt-out clause is genius.

Sounds like he deals like Senna too.

51.3 million a year is fucking nuts.

My only question is how the hell can they dump Heikki for Piquet Jr.??? Heikki is the more competent driver imo.

My only question is how the hell can they dump Heikki for Piquet Jr.??? Heikki is the more competent driver imo.

Money? Sponsorship?

That or they clearly want someone who's significantly slower than Alonso to avoid problems.

called it in July. You guys should really contemplate listening to me.

you and "a few" others...:)

Seriously...though, if this contract is as reported, hat off to his management team. Or Did Flavio just find a way to give himself a raise?;)

good move for alonso (even though i loathe him), although it's not like nobody knew this would happen four months ago. he's got a sweet spot, now. funny that he optioned for the 12-month-out, because at the rate things are going it's going to take kimi retiring before a seat opens up at ferrari. that's the only seat that could be available in '09 (since massa is signed through '10), and kimi has already stated that he wants ferrari to be his last team before retirement. i don't believe i've heard kimi wax sappy sentiments towards his employers like he has ferrari this year, all year. montezemolo is more than happy with him, despite his obvious love for fernando's nuts, and unless todt retires this or next year, he'd have to be dead before he'd allow alonso to wear ferrari red. i know alonso would love to think he has an honest shot at ferrari, but i believe the honest truth is... he doesn't. not until after '10, at least. he may as well get comfy at renault.

mr. kovaleinen... welcome to mclaren (my prediction). :buttrock


FYI, Todt has retired from the Gestione Sportive of Ferrari... Stefano Domenicali is the new team boss

My only question is how the hell can they dump Heikki for Piquet Jr.??? Heikki is the more competent driver imo.

How does anyone know that for sure? Heikki, won Formula Nissan in Japan and Piquet Jr. won the british F3 championship which is not an easy task....
They both had similar results in GP2 (second...)

I do think that Jr. being an F1 rookie will be "easier to deal with" for Alonso than Heikki would have been.

That or they clearly want someone who's significantly slower than Alonso to avoid problems.

:rofl

How does anyone know that for sure? Heikki, won Formula Nissan in Japan and Piquet Jr. won the british F3 championship which is not an easy task....
They both had similar results in GP2 (second...)

I do think that Jr. being an F1 rookie will be "easier to deal with" for Alonso than Heikki would have been.

Because Heikki's not a rookie, that's why. He's already been through the struggles of a rookie season, and learned from his mistakes. He's going to be a much better driver next year, and he's already proven he can be competitive after he dragged that shitty Renault to a Podium.

I do think that Jr. being an F1 rookie will be "easier to deal with" for Alonso ...
I'm sure that's what he thought when he signed with McLaren! Boy, did that go wrong...:lol

You gotta be kidding me...100 mil for 3 years with an opt-out after one? I've never heard of such a thing. He bent Flavio over on that one...:D

You gotta be kidding me...100 mil for 3 years with an opt-out after one? I've never heard of such a thing. He bent Flavio over on that one...:D

Haha definitely. I wonder if Flavio's gonna take back what he said about Alonso never winning a Championship again. He better take it back, if he wants Alonso to win that is, because if Flavio says it, it must be true!

FYI, Todt has retired from the Gestione Sportive of Ferrari... Stefano Domenicali is the new team boss

i feel shameful for being that out of the loop. last i heard he was only considering it and hadn't made it official yet.

none the less, my vibe remains the same: it's going to take nothing less than an act of god for fernando to find himself in a suitable position to option out of renault for ferrari.

I'm sure that's what he thought when he signed with McLaren! Boy, did that go wrong...:lol

Beat me to it!

I'm hoping Kovalainen to take the Mclaren seat. He did pretty well after a slow start. Wouldn't mind De La Rosa either.

alonso FTL. i hope he is stuck in a slow car for 2008. leave the racing at the front for the mature boys who don't cry like bitches and blackmail people when they don't get their way.

the guy is a quick driver, i'm sure he will be near competitive, if not racing for wins at certain tracks, but renault showed us how easy it is to fall from the pace in F1 in 2007, and we all know how difficult it is to get ON pace one year to the next. my guess is that renault will battle with BMW next year for 3rd spot, while mclaren and ferrari duke it out at the top again.

my guess is that renault will battle with BMW next year for 3rd spot, while mclaren and ferrari duke it out at the top again.

Yep - agree with that. Renault will have a better car next year and BMW will too. I think they'll give the front two fits at some events next season.