Ferrari says it could finally announce its 2010 driver line-up as early as this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, with Fernando Alonso’s widely-anticipated move now appearing all set to go ahead.
Speculation has been rife for months that the Renault driver will switch to the Maranello-based outfit for next season, even though both Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen have contracts to continue racing for the team for another year.
However, 2007 world champion Raikkonen has long been seen as the driver most likely to make way for two-time champion Alonso should Ferrari be able to agree a deal to release the Finn from the final year of what is the most lucrative deal in Formula 1.
Ferrari is now believed to be close to concluding Alonso’s switch, with the Daily Telegraph reporting on Monday that the Italian team’s lawyers have been working overtime to complete the final details of Raikkonen’s pay-off – which will open the door for the Finn to make a surprise return to McLaren.
With the team’s driver plans now appearing close to falling into place, Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali admitted after Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix that it was keen to end all the speculation soon.
“I think that as soon as we are ready we will let you know,” he said. “We don’t want to wait too long."
And asked if the announcement could be made at Suzuka, he said: “It is a possibility, but it is not guaranteed.”
Alonso himself admitted in Singapore on Sunday that his decision on where he would be driving in 2010 had already been made, adding that scoring Renault’s first podium finish of the year would not change his choice.
“This podium doesn’t change anything, I took the decision already, so soon we will know,” he said after finishing third.
With Raikkonen’s imminent Ferrari departure after three seasons looking increasing likely to pave the way for a return to McLaren, attention could soon turn to when the Woking squad confirms Lewis Hamilton’s 2010 team-mate.
Team boss Martin Whitmarsh – who said several races ago that current incumbent Heikki Kovalainen had to raise his game to remain at the team for another year – remained coy on the subject of drivers on Sunday evening, although he did acknowledge that there were several alternatives to Kovalainen.
“I think by the end of the season we would have made a call there [on drivers],” he said.
“We really like the two drivers we have got at the moment and we would love to continue, but there are other options and we have just got to look at what is the best thing for this team.”
And asked whether the team had any concerns about pairing two star drivers together again after the problems it experienced when Alonso partnered Hamilton in 2007, he insisted: “I think of all the drivers we are a contemplating, I don’t think any are prone to politics and I think there are some exciting opportunities out there.
“McLaren doesn’t run a number one driver policy, we try to have the best two drivers we can have in our cars. That’s a simple policy – we’ve had it for 25 years and we are not about to change now.
“Generally I think it is the right approach. There are clear examples where it has caused us some disquiet and discomfort but [in] motor racing if you don’t go and challenge yourself and challenge your team then you’re not going to be successful.”
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