10/08/2005
NEWS STORY
Although he is committed to Renault for another season, Fernando Alonso has hinted that a move to Ferrari is not entirely out of the question, even though it is the French team that looks likely to bring him his first World Championship title.
"Every driver wants to be at the wheel of the fastest car," the Spaniard told Italian magazine Autosprint, "however, it's just a matter of the timing. Right now every driver would like to be in a Renault or a McLaren, because they are winning. Therefore I will wait until my contract with Renault is up, then I will analyze all the available options."
Asked if this could include Ferrari, the youngster replied: "Yes, because for the last five seasons they have produced the best car, the most competitive car."
That said, he admitted that he was uneasy with the current system at Maranello, where there is a clear number one driver.
"Every point I have, I have got by myself," he said. "At Ferrari, there's always been a number one and a number two driver, and things have always been very clear. For the other nine teams, I'd say that in theory the car conditions and the priority among drivers are equal.
"I would say that it's normal to see two drivers in the same team racing against each other, it gives good competition inside the team and increases each driver's motivation.
"So far things have gone well for me, but I don't expect any gifts from my teammate, and that's fine."
In reality, contrary to what Alonso might think there has not always been a number one and number two driver at Ferrari. Team founder, Enzo Ferrari, once famously said that a number one driver was a luxury that he could not afford.