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Formula 1 Paddocks Echos from China - Saturday

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Khatir Soltani
From GMM

Alonso still wants to race for Ferrari

Fernando Alonso has admitted he still harbours a dream to race for Ferrari one day. The Spaniard has been persistently linked with the Italian marque this year, but it is now clear that - while weighing up a big-money offer from Honda - he is likely to stay at Renault for the 2009 season.

But he told Italy's Corriere dello Sport newspaper: "I admit that one day I would very much like to be with Ferrari. "It's the best team in the history of formula one, and it is clear that those who go with them, are part of history," the former double world champion said.

Rosberg admits 'danger' of stalled career

NicoRosberg has admitted the "danger" of his formula one career losingmomentum with more difficult seasons. The German driver, who failedeven to graduate through 'Q1' with his Williams in Shanghai, will alsostay with the Oxfordshire based team next year.

But he admitsthat, in the fickle F1 world, memories of sensational promise areshort. "Jenson Button is a good example," the 23-year-old continued."For me, he is still a really, really good driver. But his market valuehas gone down hugely since 2004", when he was third in the championshipbehind the Ferraris, Rosberg said.

FIA man defends stewarding system

FIA delegate Alan Donnelly has rejected calls for a former driver to occupy a permanent role in the F1 stewards room. Donnelly, the non-voting advisor to the three nominated stewards at each grand prix, said he does not agree with claims the current system needs to be overhauled.

Donnelly defends the credentials of the current stewards, which are changed every race weekend. "These are people who, every weekend, work in some important event. They are given a superlicense just like the drivers. We have stewards who have done this job for 20 or 25 years," he said.

F1 veteran David Coulthard, however, believes it is difficult for stewards without driving backgrounds to make good decisions. "I would be uncomfortable making a call on somebody's move in a MotoGP or something like that because although I have ridden a motorcycle, I don't know what it is to race one of them," he said.

Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
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