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Smoke becomes fire as Alonso's future at Ferrari in serious doubt

Smoke becomes fire as Alonso's future at Ferrari in serious doubt

  • Published on 23 Sep 2014 09:47
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Where before there was merely smoke, now there are the first obvious signs of fire. Fernando Alonso's future with Ferrari is almost certainly in serious doubt. Some Spanish media sources continue to insist that the frustrated Spaniard is not interested in leaving the crisis-struck Italian team for McLaren-Honda, or even reigning world champions Red Bull. But dominant Mercedes could be another matter.

Still, the latest rumours suggest McLaren could now be heading towards a highly-experienced lineup of Alonso alongside Jenson Button to spearhead the new Honda era. That would leave rookie Kevin Magnussen in the cold. All of a sudden, the young Dane is admitting his future might not be secure.

"It would make no sense to go from McLaren to a smaller team," Magnussen is quoted by Russia's f1news.ru. "If I do not manage to be successful with McLaren and meet their expectations, then I'm not good enough to be world champion anyway."

At the very same time, strong signs that not all is well between Alonso and Ferrari's new boss Marco Mattiacci are becoming ever more concrete. Authoritative reports are quoting Mattiacci as having given unusual answers to very direct questions about Alonso's position at Ferrari after the Singapore grand prix. "Fernando is still with us in 2015? At the moment, yes," he said. "He has a contract until 2016, but there is an ongoing discussion also about how we will define the relationship."

Italy's respected and specialist La Gazzetta dello Sport on Monday claimed Alonso has now "expressed his intention to leave Ferrari" after conditions placed on his continuing position were not accepted or met. The report quoted Mattiacci as saying: "We must have the courage to change and not rest on the laurels of the past. I have been asked to lead this and not everyone can like it," he added.

The Spanish sports newspaper Marca, however, quoted Mattiacci as insisting in Singapore that "Nothing has changed in my relationship with Fernando this weekend". But, clearly referring to the management upheavals at Maranello this year, he also said: "I do not know any company that makes such profound changes where everyone can be happy about it. Some like it and some do not. But sometimes you have to have the courage to change."

More signs of the clash between Mattiacci and Alonso could be detected in their assessment of Ferrari's performance in Singapore. Mattiacci claimed the team has made clear progress since Monza. "We had the pace of Red Bull -- it is clear that the car has improved," said the Italian. But Alonso said: "My teammate was 45 seconds behind me." (GMM)
F1 News Fernando Alonso Jenson Button Kevin Magnussen Mercedes McLaren Ferrari Honda

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Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China
Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy
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Monaco
Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
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Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria
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5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
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Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
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Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
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China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
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Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
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Monaco Monte Carlo
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Canada Gilles Villeneuve
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Spain Circuit de Catalunya
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Austria Red Bull Ring
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United Kingdom Silverstone
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Hungary Hungaroring
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Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
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Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
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Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
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United States of America Circuit of the Americas
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Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
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United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
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Driver profile

ES Fernando Alonso 14
  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 526
  • Podiums 9
  • Grand Prix 148
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (42)
  • Place of b. Oviedo, ES
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
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