No move for Alonso

There's no shortage of drivers rumoured to be moving on from their current teams but Fernando Alonso is staying put at Renault, at least for the foreseeable future. Recent reports suggested the young Spanish star was the latest in a string of names ...

There's no shortage of drivers rumoured to be moving on from their current teams but Fernando Alonso is staying put at Renault, at least for the foreseeable future. Recent reports suggested the young Spanish star was the latest in a string of names to be linked with a move to Ferrari but, as usual, it's only speculation. Alonso has impressed with his on-track performances this year and Renault is not about to let him slip away.

Fernando Alonso signs autographs.

Photo by Brousseau Photo.

"We are talking about a situation that doesn't exist," said team boss Flavio Briatore. "Alonso is under contract with Renault until the end of 2006 and we have no intentions of letting him go before that."

Adrian Campos, Alonso's agent, said he is not aware of any talks but claims Fernando will be a free agent as early as 2005: "I don't know anything of a deal," he commented. "It's just speculation. For the moment he's not on the market. But in 2005 anything's possible."

Renault, however, reiterated its claim to the Spaniard for the next two years by releasing the folowing statement: "In order to put an end to speculation which appeared in the international press following the US Grand Prix, the Renault F1 Team would like to confirm that Fernando Alonso is under a long-term contract to the team which includes the 2005 season."

While a few drivers have been touted as Michael Schumacher's successor at Ferrari, it appears to have been overlooked that the man himself is not intending to retire. There has been talk that if he wins his sixth title at Suzuka next weekend, Schumacher will be ready to call it quits. But don't count on it.

"I am not thinking at all about retiring," Schumacher said recently. "I think it will be time for me to go when someone will beat me in a very clear and undisputed way. With four Constructors' and three Drivers' Championship titles, we opened an era and our goal is to make it last as long as possible."