F1 ace Fernando Alonso has reportedly signed a secret, four-year deal to drive for Ferrari starting in 2011. The Spanish driver first made waves in F1 while driving for Renault, during which time he became the the youngest ever Drivers' Champion and added a second title at the expense of F1 legend Michael Schumacher. After a disappointing though lucrative season in 2007 with McLaren, Alonso returned to Renault in 2008 and recently signed a two-year extension through 2010. Once that contract expires, the rumored secret four-year deal with Ferrari will begin. We're told that both Alonso and Ferrari have a number of out clauses in case things go awry, though the unconfirmed deal means that at least one of Ferraris current drivers, Kimi Raikkonen or Felipe Massa, won't be wearing red come 2011. In fact, Alonso could join the team even earlier if Raikkonen performs as poorly in 2009 as he did last year.
They say a rumor repeated often enough will become true. If that's the case, then one of Ferrari's drivers had better start updating his CV, because the rumor-mill's a churnin' again over Fernando Alonso's speculated move to the Scuderia. The report was flying around Monte Carlo, where the F1 circus made its most recent stop. But while previous reports placed the two-time world champion in the red racing suit for 2009, the latest reports push that off a year until 2010.
Alonso, of course, beat out Ferrari's mega-star Michael Schumacher two years in a row to win the world title before leaving Renault for McLaren. That arrangement most famously didn't work out, resulting in Alonso's release from his contract and his subsequent return to Renault. The contract was said to be for two years with an out clause after one, but the French team has failed to perform this year and Alonso has scored a paltry nine points six races now into the season. He's been angling for a Ferrari drive and the Scuderia has been rumored to take a liking to the accomplished Spaniard.
However, the renewed reports raise several questions. Most pressing is which of Ferrari's current drivers would be given the oust to make room for Alonso? Kimi Raikkonen scored the title for the team, but this year Felipe Massa is following very shortly behind the defending champ. Second to that comes the issue of sportsmanship and teamwork, both of which are highly prized in Maranello and severely lacking in Alonso's demonstrated character. But while these and other issues seem prohibitive, we wouldn't be all that surprised to see how quickly they can be dismissed in pursuit of a dominating championship.
