From GMM and René Fagnan
First the Spanish press was adamant, and now its Italian counterparts agree: two-time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso is destined to be unveiled as a Ferrari driver.
The story is this week being carried by Italy's specialist La Gazzetta dello Sport as well as Autosprint.
The latter magazine showed on its cover a photo-shopped image of 27-year-old Alonso wearing red overalls and the caption 'Alonso will be a Ferrarista from 15 November'.
La Gazzetta claims the Spaniard's deal, for two years and options for three more, was actually drawn up last summer but Ferrari has "decided to keep totally silent", probably because Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen are under contract for 2010.
The sports daily says Raikkonen has been advised by lawyers to insist the Maranello based team honour the agreement, meaning that if Ferrari wants to replace him; they will have to pay his full 28m euro fee next year.
British journalist James Allen reminded everyone that back in 1995, there were many rumours that Michael Schumacher was going to be announced as a Ferrari driver. The Ferrari press office issued a press release on 20th June, which said:
“Ferrari would like to express, for the umpteenth time and with maximum clarity that all stories relating to negotiations with the driver Michael Schumacher are totally false.”
A few weeks later FIAT patriarch Gianni Agnelli announced the signing of Schumacher.
Would history repeat itself with the signature of Fernando Alonso?
But according to Autosport, Alonso, denied he had any contracts with Ferrari, and said he had not even talked to the team about his future.
"They are only rumours. They have been happening in the last four or five years," Alonso told reporters in Germany.
When asked if he had been talking to Ferrari or if you had a Ferrari contract, he said: "No, and no."
photo:Renault
First the Spanish press was adamant, and now its Italian counterparts agree: two-time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso is destined to be unveiled as a Ferrari driver.
The story is this week being carried by Italy's specialist La Gazzetta dello Sport as well as Autosprint.
The latter magazine showed on its cover a photo-shopped image of 27-year-old Alonso wearing red overalls and the caption 'Alonso will be a Ferrarista from 15 November'.
La Gazzetta claims the Spaniard's deal, for two years and options for three more, was actually drawn up last summer but Ferrari has "decided to keep totally silent", probably because Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen are under contract for 2010.
The sports daily says Raikkonen has been advised by lawyers to insist the Maranello based team honour the agreement, meaning that if Ferrari wants to replace him; they will have to pay his full 28m euro fee next year.
British journalist James Allen reminded everyone that back in 1995, there were many rumours that Michael Schumacher was going to be announced as a Ferrari driver. The Ferrari press office issued a press release on 20th June, which said:
“Ferrari would like to express, for the umpteenth time and with maximum clarity that all stories relating to negotiations with the driver Michael Schumacher are totally false.”
A few weeks later FIAT patriarch Gianni Agnelli announced the signing of Schumacher.
Would history repeat itself with the signature of Fernando Alonso?
But according to Autosport, Alonso, denied he had any contracts with Ferrari, and said he had not even talked to the team about his future.
"They are only rumours. They have been happening in the last four or five years," Alonso told reporters in Germany.
When asked if he had been talking to Ferrari or if you had a Ferrari contract, he said: "No, and no."
photo:Renault