FERRARI COOL ALONSO TALK
Ferrari chiefs have cooled talks of Fernando Alonso signing for the team in 2009, branding the prospect as 'damaging.'
Reports had suggested that Ferrari could be interested in making a move for Alonso as a possible replacement for the inconsistent Felipe Massa although team president Luca Di Montezemolo has dismissed the speculation, claiming that a Raikkonen - Alonso partnership would not suit the team.
The Spaniard, who quite McLaren after just one year of a three year contract after falling out with owner Ron Dennis and teammate Lewis Hamilton, is rumoured to be looking for a way out of current team Renault following a series of poor results.
The F1 Championship has been blown wide open again after events in Bahrain, will their be another twist in Barcelona this weekend. Make sure that you check out all the latest Formula One betting markets at Sporting Index.
Alonso, who won the 2006 World Championship with Renault, has won just six points from the opening three races on his return to the French marque and reports suggested that Ferrari, who are said to be unhappy with the performance of Felipe Massa, could make an approach.
But Di Montezemolo told Gazzetta dello Sport: "I want two equal drivers that work together.
"To line up Kimi Raikkonen and Alonso would mean wanting to damage yourself."
Alonso has himself given tentative backing to his current employers, claiming that he would be willing to stay at Renault if it suited him.
"My first option is to stay at Renault if we succeed in creating a winning car," he told El Pais newspaper.
"The truth is we are making progress but what I want is to race in a car that can give me victories."
And Renault technicians claim that they are working to give the former world champion the package he desires, announcing a host of improvements ahead of this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.
"We're confident the things we are putting on the car
will produce a clear advantage," said technical director Bob Bell.
"It will be a big step forward - multiple tenths of a
second.
"At the moment we are deficient in aero-generated grip
in the high-speed corners - that is probably contributing the most to our lack
of performance.
"Equally, we are losing out in the low-speed corners,
so we have suspension upgrades that will start addressing those problems.
"We do have to be cautious, though, and remember that every team sees Barcelona as an opportunity to introduce a major upgrade."
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