Fernando Alonso’s former teammate doubts the Spaniard’s high-profile switch from Ferrari to McLaren will result in instant success.<\/p>\n
But Jarno Trulli, who was Alonso’s teammate at Renault over a decade ago, does think the end of the five-year partnership with Ferrari was inevitable.<\/p>\n
“I think after five years of marriage with Ferrari, when it did not result in a world championship, which is what Fernando expected, it is normal that the end came,” the 40-year-old Italian said.<\/p>\n
“For both sides.\u00a0 For Fernando and for Ferrari, who both want to win races and titles,” said Trulli.<\/p>\n
A former Monaco winner, Trulli was speaking to Spain’s EFE news agency from Buenos Aires, where as a team owner and driver he is preparing for the next Formula E race.<\/p>\n
“It was the natural end of a relationship,” he added, referring again to Alonso’s Ferrari split.<\/p>\n
“But now Fernando is at McLaren and, unfortunately, it doesn’t look to be a better option for Alonso than Ferrari.\u00a0 At the moment, there is nowhere better to be if not at Mercedes.<\/p>\n
“There are very few options, because the quality of formula one has suffered a dramatic decline in performance.\u00a0 There are only a few teams that can afford to develop engines and cars, because budgets are very high and the economic situation is not helping.<\/p>\n
“That leaves you with very few options, and that’s the situation Fernando is in now.<\/p>\n
“It is a difficult situation,” Trulli explained, “and hard to accept, even for him, because he obviously wants to fight for victory.\u00a0 But I think it’s going to be another tough season this year with McLaren.<\/p>\n
“I don’t wish that for him, but it does not look good.”<\/p>\n
Trulli admitted that the political situation for McLaren’s new works engine supplier Honda, who have been left out of the controversial development ‘unfreeze’, is yet another problem.<\/p>\n
“For now,” said the former Toyota driver, “I think the only good thing is that Fernando is going to be paid well.\u00a0 But on the technical side, I do not see McLaren being able to match the two or three best teams.”<\/p>\n
But one positive for Alonso, Trulli explained, is that he will likely not overly regret his decision to leave Ferrari.<\/p>\n
“It has been difficult times for them (Ferrari),” he said, “changing people, taking wrong decisions.\u00a0 They did not benefit from the rule changes and lag behind technically, and – until recently – also politically.<\/p>\n
“Now at least they succeeded politically with opening the engine freeze, but the main problem is that they need to turn the technical side around completely.<\/p>\n
“You don’t do that in a day.\u00a0 Not even in a year — it takes a long time.”<\/p>\n
Trulli therefore tips Mercedes to dominate yet again in 2015.<\/p>\n
“They have an enormous advantage,” he said, “and the others are not going to catch up yet because I think last year they (Mercedes) still had something in their sleeve.”<\/p>\n
\u00a9 RIF | GMM<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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