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Alonso, Kimi scotch claims, Rosberg to BMW? |
Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen have both dismissed suggestions the Spaniard is manoeuvring his way into the Finn's Ferrari seat in Formula 1 for next season, whilst Nico Rosberg has apparently been added to BMW-Sauber's 2009 shopping list.
Alonso is known to be unhappy at Renault, and Honda team principal and former Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn earlier this week hinted that everyone is aware of where the former double world champion would like to be driving next year [see separate story –
click here],
Despite walking into the Silverstone paddock this weekend clad in a Ferrari-red shirt – the colour of his country's national football team, which recently triumphed in Euro 2008 in a final watched by Alonso in Vienna's stands – the 26-year-old stressed no deal had yet been done.
“No, I'm not about to sign anything,”
F1SA quotes him as having told reporters on the subject of the lingering rumours. “After the summer I will have some time to think about what I am going to do.
“So far I have not talked to anyone, nor has anything happened. I am focused 100 per cent on doing good races.”
German publication
Auto Bild Motorsport, meanwhile, has suggested that rather than signing Alonso, and backed by chief sponsor Marlboro, Ferrari could launch a staggering €60 million bid to poach the highly-rated Sebastian Vettel away from the Red Bull fold in 2009, should Raikkonen elect to hang up his helmet – a claim the reigning title-winner was quick to rubbish.
“Me retiring?” the 28-year-old fired back. “I have a contract for next season.”
Other paddock whispers, finally, hint that Rosberg is now a candidate for a BMW seat next year, to replace underperforming and under-fire countryman Nick Heidfeld. The 23-year-old former GP2 Series Champion, though, is under contract to his current team Williams in 2009, with team boss Sir Frank Williams making it clear that he would not let go of the Grove-based outfit's prize asset for even '50 million dollars'.
