Auto123.com - Helping you drive happy

F1: Latest rumours send Fernando Alonso to Williams

|
Obtain the best financial rate for your car loan at Automobile En DirectTecnic
Khatir Soltani
Adapted GMM

Williams is the latest team sensationally linked with Fernando Alonso's uncertain future.

Dominant Mercedes - his obvious target - is not interested in accommodating Alonso in 2015, team chairman Niki Lauda repeated at Sochi.

"We have a contract with Lewis (Hamilton) for 2015," the F1 legend told Auto Motor und Sport, "so there is no place for Alonso.

Alonso is in talks with McLaren-Honda, but supremo Ron Dennis is reportedly pushing back against the Spaniard's salary demands, and reluctant to agree a mere one-year deal.

Auto Motor und Sport claims Alonso is also lining up his alternatives should his talks with McLaren fail.

Valtteri Bottas, Williams FW36
Williams is not a bad team (Photo: WRI2)

"He is also knocking at Lotus and Williams," said correspondent Michael Schmidt.

Schmidt said a move to Lotus is however unlikely for Alonso, even after the Enstone team announced its switch to field-leading Mercedes power for 2015.

When asked if Alonso is a possibility for Lotus, Romain Grosjean said in Russia: "Maybe, but I don't think so."

That could be because the Total and PDVSA sponsorships linked with existing drivers Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado respectively brings a whopping $80 million to the team.

And the impressive Mercedes-powered Williams team has already announced that it will field an unchanged driver lineup of Valtteri Bottas alongside Felipe Massa in 2015.

Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 8 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada