After two weeks of intense speculation, Fernando Alonso on Thursday had to admit his future at Ferrari is currently unclear.<\/p>\n
“I don’t live on Mars,” said the Spaniard at Suzuka, when asked by swarms of reporters if he was up to date with what has been happening in the press since Singapore.<\/p>\n
Alonso can no longer deny that his frustration at Ferrari, and perhaps also the Maranello team’s frustration with his flagging commitment, could lead him elsewhere in formula one.<\/p>\n
Asked directly ahead of the Japanese grand prix to categorically rule out a move to a rival team like McLaren-Honda or Red Bull for 2014, he said: “That is a difficult question.<\/p>\n
“I say only that I will do what is in the best interest of Ferrari,” he is quoted by Speed Week.<\/p>\n
“Ferrari is a big name, a big brand, bigger than any of us.\u00a0 I will always act in the interest of the team,” Alonso repeated.<\/p>\n
But the rumours suggest otherwise: that, as probably the best driver in F1 today, the 33-year-old has finally tired of waiting for a title-winning Ferrari.<\/p>\n
Alonso acknowledged: “Only if you win titles will the people keep thinking you are the best.\u00a0 Of course I want to win more.<\/p>\n
“I feel good, I’m fit.\u00a0 This is the best phase of my career.<\/p>\n
“Nothing has changed in the two weeks since Singapore.\u00a0 There are some options on the table,” he revealed.<\/p>\n
One reporter pointed out that Alonso could easily stop or at least quieten the rumours by declaring plainly ‘I am definitely staying at Ferrari’.<\/p>\n
Alonso replied: “The bottom line is that you always have an idea of what you want to do.\u00a0 And I do.<\/p>\n
“I am happy that I have a choice in formula one.\u00a0 Every driver cannot say that.\u00a0 I consider myself lucky that I myself can decide about my future.”<\/p>\n
The team most linked with Alonso’s services in 2015 has been McLaren, with Honda open to paying lucratively for F1’s biggest name.<\/p>\n
But surely Alonso cannot imagine reuniting with Ron Dennis, after the ill-fated events at McLaren in 2007?<\/p>\n
“I had no war with anyone there,” Alonso insisted.\u00a0 “But I am with Ferrari, I drive for Ferrari and it would not be very respectful to talk about other teams.”<\/p>\n
If Alonso does go, Ferrari will be keen to replace him with another great champion.\u00a0 Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel is a rumoured candidate.<\/p>\n
Italy’s Autosprint reports on Thursday that a race engineer who once worked closely with Vettel at Toro Rosso – Riccardo Adami – is preparing to move from Faenza to Ferrari for 2015.<\/p>\n
“A coincidence, or a clue?” read the report.<\/p>\n
\u00a9 RIF | GMM<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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