Fernando coup
Renault fear F1 finish as Alonso signs for McLaren
FORMULA ONE world champion Fernando Alonso scooped a £ 45million jackpot by joining McLaren-Mercedes yesterday — and immediately t h r e w h i s s p o r t i n t o turmoil.
The newly- crowned Spaniard could hardly refuse a fresh challenge or the incredible £ 15m a year for three years on offer from a team who have just secured lucrative sponsorship from Vodafone.
However, the seismic announcement of 24- year- old Alonso’s switch from the 2007 season created a number of after- shocks which included speculation about whether there will be life after Alonso for his current employers, Renault.
It is almost certain the driver’s mentor, Flavio Briatore, will quit as team manager when his contract expires at the end of next season and the French manufacturer’s new chief executive, Carlos Ghosn, may not continue to sanction their £250m racing budget.
Elsewhere, there was much scratching of heads over the effects of the deal that was carried out so swiftly, and secretively, by McLaren’s canny boss Ron Dennis — not least in the camps of his two current drivers, Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya, whose contracts are up at the end of next season.
Raikkonen, who at 25 will hardly be short of offers as he was runner-up to Alonso in the championship, is a proven winner and regarded as the swiftest driver if not the most successful.
Montoya, 30, is also highly rated despite an indifferent first season for McLaren, when he took a long time to find his form after a shoulder injury caused by what he claimed was a tennis accident.
Raikkonen has already been strongly linked with a move to Ferrari as replacement for Michael Schumacher if the multiworld title winner decides to retire when his contract expires at the end of next year.
Sources close to Raikkonen say the Finn has made no decision about his future and insist that he would not be fazed by having Alonso as a team-mate — which would certainly make a mouthwatering scenario for F1.
Dennis once employed Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna when they were regarded as the top two drivers and let them race on equal terms while the sport sat on the edge of its seat and watched the sparks fly.
Dennis said: ‘ It’s fantastic for this team to have been able to announce having Vodafone and the world champion on board within a few days. We always make it clear we want to be the best, and the only way of achieving this is by attracting the best people, drivers and sponsors.
‘We are in discussions with our current drivers, Kimi and Juan Pablo, about 2007. They are both extremely talented, professional and competitive and they will continue to concentrate on our joint championship challenges in 2006.’
But only one — and maybe neither — will be on board the following year when Alonso joins McLaren.
The Spaniard has inspired tens of thousands of his compatriots to take an interest in F1 when they once preferred cycling and motorbikes.
Renault motor-racing supremo Patrick Faure said: ‘I was disappointed to learn of Fernando’s decision but fresh challenges are essential for any sportsman and he wants to pursue a new direction in his career.’
Alonso enthusiastically shares Dennis’s vision for McLaren. He said: ‘ To be one part of a team with such a desire to succeed and passion for perfection is a dream come true for any F1 driver.
‘ It will be a new beginning for me and a tremendous challenge although, obviously, it will be sad to leave Renault where I achieved my ambition to become champion. I’m grateful for that and will be doing my best to win races and defend my title next season.’
It is highly probable, however, that his decision to move on would have been influenced by Briatore, who has been like a surrogate father throughout his motor-racing career and took him to Renault as Jenson Button’s replacement three years ago.
Briatore always insisted Alonso was ‘ a special talent’. This past season proved him absolutely correct as the Spaniard’s speed and assurance took him to the top of the championship early on and his reliability kept him there despite pressure from Raikkonen.
r.matts@dailymail.co.uk