Alpine eyes Silverstone for Alonso new contract talks
May 13 - Alpine has earmarked Silverstone as the scene of the first talks with Fernando Alonso about potentially extending the 40-year-old's contract.
The former two-time champion, who returned to Formula 1 last year on a two-year deal following a sabbatical, said recently that he envisages racing on for another few years.
Friend and fellow Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa thinks retirement at the end of 2022 is very unlikely for Alonso.
"I would be very surprised," he told DAZN.
"He is 40 years old, but physically he is impeccable and he is doing some of his best races. He's in shape and he's eager and I can say that 24 hours a day he thinks only of four wheels.
"Fernando still has three or four years in him," the former F1 driver added.
Whether Alonso will stay at Alpine, however, is another story - as the Renault-owned works team is keen to promote reigning Formula 2 champion Oscar Piastri.
And Alonso has also been frustrated with a series of bad results recently that he does not believe were his fault.
"It's very frustrating, of course," team boss Otmar Szafnauer told the Spanish newspaper AS, "but he's fine and we all want more, both us and Fernando.
"The good thing is that the package works, so you can work hard on the rest."
According to Szafnauer, the new Renault engine is not the problem, as he acknowledges that while "Ferrari is a bit ahead of everyone", Alpine is "doing well against Honda and Mercedes".
As for the car, the Enstone based team is determined to progress.
"Because of porpoising, sometimes we have to compromise low-speed corners to solve high-speed corners," Szafnauer admitted.
"There are new pieces for Spain, then more pieces two races later, and also in the tenth race. It will be a constant flow of developments."
As for whether it will all be enough to get Alonso's signature on a new contract, that will also have to wait until race ten - the British GP.
"We will talk about it from Silverstone," Szafnauer said.
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Go Fernando Go
What dyo think JB another 2yr deal.?no id better call you John, JB is to much like Jenson lol
Call me anything but not after that Hamilton loving arse Button
Perhaps he will keep his gob shut and give us all a break
To be fair JB doesn't normally side with everything sir Lulu does and he certainly gave Lulu a run for his money at mclaren and no love lost between the two while they raced each other, now if you said JB is siding with Lulu because he"JB" is now on sky's payroll like most of the other presenters who also side with Lulu then I would agree with what your saying., even now when he's trailing behind the top teams it's still poor Lulu he was unlucky there unfortunately they have been doing it for so long they can hardly remember other drivers names.
I was going to say , i havnt got sky , but if he is on Sky payroll, then its a bit more understandable, always though jb , tended to say more what HE thought , rather than the popularist take on things, thing is with sky uk ,, they are paid to promote f1 to the uk , The other brits on the grid arent as big a success as LaLa YET although if King George carries on like he is, they are never going to praise CL like they would a Brit, thats my 2p worth anyway
I think that was worth 20p in new money, while am here Ror has been quiet,,, anything to do with Miami.
Hes saving it all up for the next installment of "whats the next ridiculous thing Lewis can do" theres bound to be one for next weekend...!
I thought that was your job, 24/7. Still you managed to get your LH hatred in this Alonso post.
You can use the words hate/hatred all you like if it makes you feel better ,I however will continue to call it taking the piss...!!
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