(Motorsport-Total.com) – Even if there are currently no races due to the corona crisis: The transfer carousel in Formula 1 is currently almost more exciting than some Grand Prix. And during these days, one domino after the other falls, insiders speculate about a real sensation: a possible return from Fernando Alonso!
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Fernando Alonso: Martin Brundle sees an opportunity for a comeback zoom
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Several official announcements are expected for Thursday, including Renault (farewell to Daniel Ricciardo) and Ferrari (presentation by Carlos Sainz). And the free Renault cockpit, at least Formula 1 insider Martin Brundle suspects, could possibly go to Alonso.
“I see a scenario in which Sainz switches to Ferrari and Daniel Ricciardo to McLaren. Then a cockpit at Renault is free. Possibly for Alonso,” the generally well-connected TV expert speculates in an interview with ‘Sky’. “I don’t see a new home for Sebastian Vettel. But let’s wait. We know that he’s talking to other teams.”
Alonso himself, now 38, only hinted last week that a return to Formula 1 could appeal to him: “I always said: There will be new rules in Formula 1 in 2021. Maybe I’ll come back there, because interest is growing, the cars will be better balanced, and maybe I’ll be more excited about traveling and more likely to be competitive. ”
Alonso: What are his plans for 2021?
Alonso believes that Formula 1 has postponed the introduction of the new rules to 2022 due to the corona crisis to 2022, but at the same time describes it as “bad news” for Grand Prix racing.
“As for myself, I know more or less what I’m going to do next year. Hopefully you will find out soon,” the Spaniard fueled rumors about a possible comeback in Formula 1 with a vague statement.
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The only thing that has been fixed so far is that he will contest the Indy 500 in 2020. For 2021, the two-time Formula 1 world champion has at least not officially set a racing program yet. A return to Renault would mean that he will start for the third time after 2002 to 2006 (two world titles) and 2008 to 2009 for the Enstone team.
Daniel Ricciardo’s departure frees up the equivalent of 25 million euros in the annual budget of the French factory team. You would hardly pay Alonso in the late autumn of his career – especially not in times of the corona crisis, which hits the automotive industry and the already battered Renault-Nissan group hard.
But Alonso is still fast, fits into the politically influenced Renault environment with team boss Cyril Abiteboul and the influential consultant Alain Prost and knows that he will not get many chances to return to Formula 1. At the side of the up-and-coming youngster Esteban Ocon (Mercedes Junior), he could prove his skills again.
So far, rumors are nothing more than speculation
We do not know whether negotiations between Alonso and Renault have already taken place. In theory, another ex-world champion could also dock with the French: Sebastian Vettel has no contract for 2021 after the separation from Ferrari. However, it is unclear whether he will strive for one at all.
Photo gallery: “Grazie ragazzi”: Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari moments
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Sebastian Vettel has completed 101 races for the Scuderia Ferrari since 2015. Before the start of the 2020 season, he had 14 wins, 12 pole positions and a total of 54 podiums in red. We look back over the past five years!
Photo gallery
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Brundle suspects: “I think that there is a good chance that Sebastian will retire from Formula 1. It remains to be seen whether forever or not. We have already seen this with other drivers.” He would not completely rule out a change: “The Renault cockpit is a factory cockpit. Perhaps that is what appeals to him.”
“I wonder if it is the end of the way for Seb and if he would get involved with a midfield team. He won 14 races for Ferrari. He is still fast,” says Brundle. But: “Although he repeatedly showed the speed and delivered great qualifying sessions and races, too many mistakes crept in.”
“I think Ferrari was a frustrating experience for him. With Alonso they were very close to a few World Championship titles. Seb was in the top three of the World Championship three times, but it was never quite enough. Ferrari is fully committed to the future young Charles Leclerc. You have changed a lot in management. “
Brundle: Sainz is the clear number 2 at Ferrari
Brundle can understand why Ferrari no longer relies on the four-time world champion Vettel but on the young Sainz, who was once on the podium: “I think you now need stability and a little fresh blood with a dash of experience they can control alongside a clear number 1 in the team. “
The Formula 1 expert does not believe in a sensational transfer from Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari, which was discussed at the end of 2019 after two meetings between the six-time world champion and Ferrari President John Elkann: “He made it clear that Mercedes is his future, both in the cockpit as well, further into the future, outside the cockpit. “
Also: “Does Ferrari really want two bulls in the same stable? Leclerc and Hamilton require a lot of maintenance. They already had that. I’m not sure if that’s even up for discussion.” Because Hamilton “said very clearly that he did not want to take the Ferrari route”.
“Lewis said publicly that he didn’t want to cut his connection to Mercedes-Benz. He celebrated every single one of his Formula 1 victories, including McLaren, with a Mercedes engine. He can build on that for the future,” says Brundle.
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