Alonso threatens to quit in 2010

Eurosport - Wed, 03 Dec 12:05:00 2008

Double world champion Fernando Alonso would think about quitting Formula One if the sport adopted a standard engine from 2010

FORMULA 1 2008 Brazilian GP Fernando Alonso Renault Foto: EFE - 0

"If they approved that, it would be the last straw. It would be time to think about retirement," the Spaniard said.

Formula One's governing body, the International Automobile Federation (FIA), said in October it intended to change the rules to force teams to use a standard engine from 2010 as part of a cost-cutting drive.

It has since launched a tender for bids to provide the engine, although it said this was only one of three options being considered.

Champions Ferrari, who could well figure in Alonso's future, and Toyota have already said they will consider pulling out if standard engines were imposed.

Alonso, champion with Renault in 2005 and 2006, said Formula One was going backwards technically with recent regulation changes.

"In 2005 we had a V10 engine with 1,000 horsepower," he said. "That was what was exciting for the driver, motor racing at the limit.

"We have gone from the futuristic to cars without grip or electronic aids which look like something from the past."

Alonso won two races for Renault this year with the French manufacturer recovering from early doldrums to end the year in fourth place overall.

In 2009, with the introduction of slick tyres and the new KERS device that recovers energy from the brakes to provide extra bursts of power, the Spaniard said he would be going for the title again.

"I cannot allow myself to start the championship without thinking I am going to win," he said. "My aim and that of the team is the title. It's a very clear objective, even if as the year progresses one may have to adapt to circumstances."

Reuters

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  1. Toury's gone quiet, which means he's probably­ at school now people. He'll be doing sums 'an­ at and a bit of english 'an at.
    The great thinker­ may make an appearance at lunch time but if not teatime­ is a definite.
    I am now taking requests for subjects­ that Toury can lecture us on. I personally would like­ him to talk about KERS but he seems a bit reticent to­ do that.

    From BigBill, on Wed 3 Dec 7:13PM
  2. he should quit next year as soon as possible cos he is­ a bad­ looser.................................................­ .....

    From clement l, on Wed 3 Dec 6:48PM
  3. moronroute, if McLaren had a more powerful engine, how­ come they did even better in the wet races. Even fools­ like you should know that wet weather reduces the­ benefit of greater horsepower, as traction is reduced.

    From SS_A9X, on Wed 3 Dec 6:46PM
  4. mouronroute, Me old mate what has anything you have­ said got to do with this post, the post is about Alonso­ & yet you continue with your lies about McLaren, so­ if people didn't already know they now can see just­ what a pathetic little looser you are.
    I totally agree­ with Alonso this is supposed to be the pinnacle of­ motorsport but the way Bernie & Max are behaving­ were fast becoming a laughing stock.

    From OnlyHereForTheBeer, on Wed 3 Dec 6:39PM
  5. Slim ( a McLarens fan ): Yours ain't a lot better.

    From BigBill, on Wed 3 Dec 6:27PM
  6. Toury please give details on how Maclaren ilegally­ produced an engine with more power than anyone else­ when we all know that the most powerful unit was on the­ ferrari. Which was only challenged towards the end of­ the season by Renault.

    From BigBill, on Wed 3 Dec 6:23PM
  7. moronroute - Your ignorance and lies are just getting­ ridiculous now. A movable floor which causes the­ diffuser to stall? If this was the case (which I doubt)­ the stalling diffuser would increase drag substantially­ and cause a sharp "braking" effect. I work in­ aerodynamics so you can't fool me with your­ nonsense. Not that you fool anyone else on here with­ your variety of names, we can all identify you by your­ inept writing style.

    Why are you on at this time? Is­ you school closed because of snow?

    From Hank Scorpio, on Wed 3 Dec 6:16PM
  8. touronroute isnt this a modified version of the movable­ floorpan that they used illegaly early last year? Even­ though it was deemed to be against the rules and was­ banned. If i remember correctly Ferrari won the race­ using this illegal device But did the team or driver­ lose any points from using it? NO THEY DID NOT and­ people call Mclaren the cheats enough said.

    From joe b, on Wed 3 Dec 6:14PM
  9. care

    From jabata, on Wed 3 Dec 5:37PM
  10. I totally agree with Alonso.
    A single engine supplier­ is a huge backwards step for F1 and it would completely­ ruin the sport.
    Its a bit annoying that every single­ year the 'men in suits' seem to HAVE to tinker­ with the rules! They'll just keep tinkering until­ they destroy it!

    Its not the rules that need changing,­ its the guys running the sport!
    F1 needs somebody thats­ been involved in the sport to run it!

    From Jay, on Wed 3 Dec 5:31PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Well said alonso, but next year Mclaren wont be able to­ cheat and have more power than anyone else, like they­ have done this year and got round the rule book

    From touronroute, on Wed 3 Dec 5:28PM
  12. PAUL T, especially for you, just to show you how­ jealous , and far far behind, ron denis and mclaren­ are.In the Ferrari a spring device has been fitted to­ their floor since the end of last season, and this­ causes the floor to move. When the car is going faster­ the greater load causes the spring device to raise the­ floor and causes the diffuser to stall. If this is the­ case then this leads to aerodynamic benefits, reducing­ the drag and increasing downforce at high speeds.Would­ you believe a spring costing a few pence would have so­ much impact on sport costing millions.

    So far the­ device has passed the scrutineering tests because the­ movement has not been more than 5mm, but there is a­ deliberate movement at high speed.

    From touronroute, on Wed 3 Dec 5:25PM
  13. Hopefully before 2010 season starts. I am tired of this­ yellow belly cry baby. Yes he can drive, but such a­ snivvling little man. The sport doesnt need him.

    From not printable, on Wed 3 Dec 5:20PM
  14. I agree with him. STandardised engines will destroy F1­ and Ferrari also said they will quit if that happens.­ So with these threats i don't think standardised­ engines will come hihihi :)

    From martin.mitevski26, on Wed 3 Dec 4:44PM
  15. Daniel s you are right,,,
    by the way great Fernando is­ a fantastic driver and he is not talking for nothing

    From hassan a, on Wed 3 Dec 4:08PM
  16. Single engines are a bad idea.
    But its strange that­ this would make Alonso quit.
    I would have thought that­ he had more faith in his driving ability, than to be­ afraid to compete with an engine of equal power to that­ of the rest of the field.

    From SS_A9X, on Wed 3 Dec 3:46PM
  17. Scottish C - nice one! re last line, nice to see a­ Scotsman with a sense of humour!

    From Mike, on Wed 3 Dec 1:31PM
  18. Alonshole should quit anyway and take his incessant­ whining somewhere (anywhere!) else.

    From Melted Rubber, on Wed 3 Dec 12:51PM
  19. Edward..
    You seem to be a very bitter person. Would you­ like to tell us how it all started? After all, a­ problem shared is a problem halved (unless one drives­ for Honda of course).

    From Biffo, on Wed 3 Dec 10:38AM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I think that the person who wrote this article­ misinterpreted Fernando's words. He said that he­ might consider quitting, but it was not for sure. ­ Anyway, I highly doubt that he would leave. He is the­ best driver in Formaula One (possibly even ever). If­ he did quit, I bet that the ratings would plumit (all­ over the world, not just in Spain). And as for all of­ those haters out there, you are all fools. You­ couldn't spot talent if it hit you in the face.

    From Alexandra, on Wed 3 Dec 10:28AM
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