Alonso: Renault my 'first priority'

Eurosport - Tue, 30 Sep 10:26:00 2008

Fernando Alonso's surprise victory in Singapore has put Renault in pole position to retain the double world champion's services next season, even if he said afterwards that it had changed nothing.

FORMULA 1 2008 Singapore GP The Race (61 Laps) Alonso (Renault) - 0

"I didn't say that," the Spaniard replied when asked whether it could now be assumed he would be staying with the French manufacturer.

"This victory is also thanks to the massive effort they are making with this year's car and next year's but it's not changing the decision for next year.

"Renault will be my first priority because I feel I'm at home in this team," added the 27-year-old, who had said before Sunday's race that he needed a miracle to win after qualifying in 15th place.

Alonso rejoined Renault this season after an ill-fated year with McLaren, where he won four races but fell out with management and team mate Lewis Hamilton.

Sunday's victory in Formula One's inaugural night race, with Alonso gaining a big advantage through pitting before a safety car stint, was his first in more than a year and

Renault's first since the Spaniard won his second title with them in 2006.

The manufacturer struggled last year and, languishing in fifth place overall before Sunday's astonishing turnaround, had not looked like returning to the top step of the podium this season either.

Alonso's future has been the talk of the paddock and the key to the driver market, with both Honda and BMW-Sauber waiting for him to decide before announcing their own 2009 line-ups.

Ferrari would have been his first choice but the Italian team closed the door by announcing earlier this month that 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen would be staying with Brazilian Felipe Massa through to the end of 2010.

The Spaniard said Singapore, with Ferrari failing to score a point and McLaren's championship leader Hamilton finishing only third, had been a big boost for Renault who moved up to fourth place.

"We started the season quite far away from pole position and from the top teams and now we are much closer," he said.

"So we are definitely one of the teams who have most improved their car but maybe it was not difficult because at the beginning of the season we were not at the right level."

Reuters

Comment 20 - 39 of 79

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  1. Wayne, I don't think Kimi is suited to Ferrari very­ well. He probably went to Ferrari because he saw all­ the games the FIA was playing with McLaren and their­ bias in favor of Ferrari. Although the McLarens seem­ slightly better than the Ferraris, it doesn't­ really matter what happens on the track if the FIA and­ Ferrari are going to win the races through their­ shenanigans. Kimi isn't really a dirty tricks kind­ of guy. Alonso would be better suited to Ferrari. ­ Kimi should go back to McLaren and replace Kovalanen. ­ I like Kovalanen, but Kimi is probably a better driver.

    From fishblue6, on Mon 29 Sep 4:27PM

  2. I think the Singapore race venue stinks. Racing in the­ dark is stupid. On one hand they want to put kinetic­ energy recovery systems in the cars and then they­ decide to light up a 3 mile race course. I wonder what­ the electric bill for that was. The track was too­ bumpy, curbs were too high, there's too many turns,­ there's no place to pass, the pit entrance and exit­ was sub par, and there are walls all over the place to­ crash into. A track like that is not conducive to­ racing. Why not just put everyone's name into a­ hat and pick a winner that way. It makes as much­ sense.

    From fishblue6, on Mon 29 Sep 4:13PM

  3. kimi seems to have lost interest in f1,he just plods­ round lap after lap he should pack up and give his seat­ to Alonso and then ferrari can take the fight to­ mclaren

    From wayne H, on Mon 29 Sep 4:08PM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Hamilton must be the luckiest guy ever. Before the SC­ went in he was being eaten by the ferrari boys and that­ after surviving Q2 on saturday by 0.07s . His luck must­ run out at some point i hope.

    From mauricechlela, on Mon 29 Sep 3:59PM

  5. oh cliffe you are so generous with your lavish­ praise
    please do keep the praise for yourself dear

    From olga.wins, on Mon 29 Sep 2:42PM

  6. olga.wins

    JUST LIKE MACDONALDS, "I'M LOVING­ IT" HAHAHAHAA!!!

    From Cliffe, on Mon 29 Sep 2:35PM

  7. very boring circuit ,,`` stand on Westminster bridge­ at nite to watch the colored cars flash past
    much more­ exciting variety there with nonstop overtaking

    From olga.wins, on Mon 29 Sep 2:35PM

  8. yes cliffe,,,, dream on`` we so glad to see you are­ highly pleased & satisfied with yourself
    stay­ happy sweetie

    From olga.wins, on Mon 29 Sep 2:27PM

  9. yes dear highlite of the race was mad massa racing down­ pit lane
    with pit lane crew stumbling along after him­ ~~ yes priceless ~~ could't dream it up !

    From olga.wins, on Mon 29 Sep 2:19PM

  10. startoratora

    You said my It friend I CAN THINK THINGS­ FOR MYSELF. SADLY WE CAN'T SAY THE SAME ABOUT YOU­ EH?

    mauricechlela
    The MA-FIA are saving that little­ pleasure for your FIARARRI my friend the chances of­ them doing anything positive for Mclaren and/or ­ Hamilton are remote in the extreme.

    The most amazing­ thing is all you morons who are having a go at me about­ my posting haven't come up with an alternatives or­ counter arguements. I deal in Facts you numbnuts deal­ in sheer fantasy..get over it you bums!!

    From Cliffe, on Mon 29 Sep 2:18PM

  11. cost of a formula 1 ticket £2000
    refreshments at the­ race £ 200
    plane ticket to singapore £ 600
    hotel­ accomidation £1500

    seeing massa exiting the pit boz­ with fuel rig still attatched priceless

    come on lewis­ :)

    From cetdriver03, on Mon 29 Sep 2:16PM

  12. My congrats to Fernando. The crash and subsequent­ safety car immediately after his refuelling really put­ him back in the game after his disasterous­ qualifying.
    I too feel realy sorry for Massa. It­ wasn't his fault, for a change, but he had to­ suffer the penalty all the same. Well done to Kimi for­ another consistant race.

    Bring on the next one.

    From Say no to FIA, on Mon 29 Sep 2:11PM

  13. WTF

    From vinnydawg67, on Mon 29 Sep 1:29PM

  14. Congrats to Alonso and renault, I think Alonso will­ stay with Renault for at least one more year but if­ they want to keep him they have to build a better car.­ The best driver since senna, with a car for a GP2­ driver. Come on guys use your weapons and win World­ Championships. Sorry Massa, maybe next year.

    From john k, on Mon 29 Sep 1:18PM

  15. despite everything that been said and everything­ that's happened with contracts and commitments....­ I'd still put my money on Alonso being at ferrari­ next year... He feels 'at home' with renault???­ he's going to feel 'at home' with anyone­ who'll cater to his vanity, enable him to win and­ give him enough money. I'd put my money on him­ leaving Renault at the drop of a hat. I don't­ underestimate Alonso. I think Him and Hamilton and the­ only 2 complete drivers out there (putting aside the up­ and coming).. I just don't like him a whole lot. I­ can't see ferrari wanting another year of­ Raikonnen. Too moody and tempermental.

    From mikey, on Mon 29 Sep 12:49PM

  16. Many mama poondats talking rubbish!!!

    From beegees25, on Mon 29 Sep 12:23PM

  17. yes success to Alonso & renault ++ === most­ welcome result

    wot a red joke in pit lane !

    From sid69, on Mon 29 Sep 12:07PM

  18. Congratulations Asturiano,You're the­ "Toro" and the "Matador" in one­ Prize Piece. Yourself and Felipe are the Genuine Sabor­ Latino.AUPA...... .

    From Ir.It., on Mon 29 Sep 12:07PM

  19. About my last post - I only sent it once honest!

    Just­ a quick response to chris c who said that all Alonso­ had done was to win the championship twice in the best­ car - Doh!

    i Most drivers who win the championship do­ it because they have the best car, and
    ii Alonso was­ not one of these, he did not have the best car for his­ two championships - no way. I will state again I am­ not an Alonso fan, he just is a cracking driver -­ probably in the top 3 at the moment.

    From BigBill, on Mon 29 Sep 11:53AM

  20. congratulations to

    From startoratora, on Mon 29 Sep 11:45AM
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