Motorsport News: Russ Bond's Weekly Report

So, let's assume for a minute that this is true. If Alonso did negotiate with McLaren on his own, how long will it be before he gets a

With Alonso moving to McLaren Mercedes, will Kimi or Juan leave the fast but, at least throughout last season, unreliable squad. Could Kimi truly be heading for Ferrari? (Photo: Ferrari)

whisper from a Spanish lawyer that he really shouldn't pay his manager his cut, given he didn't do anything? Rumours suggest this could be some 20 million for the life of the contract. How will that little hit sit with Flavio?

Now, suppose Flavio did know - just for a minute. How happy do you think Renault would be with the knowledge that their highly paid team boss helped them to lose their world champion to a rival team?

Here's what I think may have happened. Flavio

Once again, F1's silly season is turning out to be one of the more entertaining aspects of the show. (Photo: Auto Sport Press)

went to McLaren, knowing that Renault is probably out of F1 by the end of 2007 - rumours surrounding the automaker's CEO Carlos Ghosn have it that they would have been out sooner if not for winning the 2005 season. So, he gets the deal from McLaren, takes it to Renault for them to match it, so they can keep Alonso. They pass, so Alonso is off to McLaren - Flavio is saved.

If this is the case, why did it not come out this way? Well, that would be because Renault is now about to enter a bidding war for either Kimi Raikkonen or Juan Pablo Montoya, either of whom, in a Renault, could be a concern for the Vodafone lads.