[HoosierDaddy]

it all come down to this. I guess..

If Alonso wants out, he have to buy out his contract. believed to be worth at least (US) $20 million.
If Ron wants Alonso out, Ron have to pay the 2 left over salaries, or score a price with Alonso.

Not true. Alonso's contract lets either side walk away if the other is in a scandal. Alonso would not have to pay a dime to leave.

I would have bet Alonso protect himself in his contract, that the team cannot demote him to testdriver role. or else Ron would have already pull Alonso out by now.

True, but Ron wouldn't pay that much for him to test since there is nobody faster available to step in this moment. Not to mention dropping Alonso means that Mclaren would be down to one driver who can take the driver's championship. With just one, many things, even a JPM tennis injury could lose the championship.

[Mikko Nassi]

I still can't believe JPM fell off a motorcycle while playing tennis.

[RocK]

haha, yea the tennisgate story. shows how shady Ron can be..

As far as the most powerful man in the paddock of Fuji Speedway knows, Fernando Alonso could be set to take a year off in 2008.

Speaking with British reporters at the scene of the Japanese Grand Prix, F1's Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone says he has been ‘told’ that Alonso might be heading to Ferrari, but only after his McLaren contract runs out.

"It would be terrible but there is nothing you can do about it," the 76-year-old said of the prospect of a world champion on the sidelines. "It might suit Ron (Dennis). Ron might say, 'I'll pay you but you can't drive for anyone else', like they do with the designers."

For the moment, it's all paddock chatter.

"He has no idea, nor has Ron. He's got a contract and if Ron wants him to stick to it he'll have to," the Briton said.

Source GMM
CAPSIS International

I guess Bernie right, no has a clue. it's all paddock chatter.

[RocK]

Fernando Alonso has signed a letter of intent to rejoin Renault starting next January (2008), according to emerging reports.

Germany's Bild newspaper said the document is the precursor to a definitive three-year contract (2008-2010), but only if the reigning world champion can successfully negotiate an end to his current McLaren deal.

Alonso is currently under contract to McLaren also for 2008, with an option to continue in 2009.

The news of Alonso's likely return to Renault follows reports that Toyota was offering the Spaniard a record retainer to switch to the Japanese car giant for 2008.

The German magazine Sport Bild said the Cologne based team was prepared to fork out (US) $150 million for a three year deal; a comparable amount of money to that earned by Michael Schumacher at Ferrari towards the end of his illustrious career.

Source GMM
© CAPSIS International

[Charlez]

Alonso probably noticed that money isn't everything at macca... team atmosphere counts for something. - so I think he'd rather go Renault than Toyota.

[RocK]

Mercedes has given the green light to McLaren to drop Spain's two-time Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso from the team for next season, a Spanish sporting daily said Thursday.

Mercedes bosses met in Germany "and reached the conclusion it is in the best interests of the company and the (McLaren-Mercedes) team to let go of the Spaniard at the end of the year," the Marca daily said.

The decision was motivated by the poor personal relations between Alonso and both his British team-mate Lewis Hamilton and McLaren boss Ron Dennis, Marca said, quoting sources close to McLaren-Mercedes.

It was "backed yesterday (Wednesday) by all the partners and the team," including Dennis.

"This situation means that all roads for Alonso lead to Renault," the team with which the Spaniard won world titles in 2005 and 2006, the newspaper said.

Renault "promised him a place with the possibility of winning the title and is currently taking steps to find the funds necessary to sign him on a contract equivalent" to the one he has with McLaren, Marca said.

[RocK]

Its official. Alonso to split McLaren confirmed

and

Alonso's manager Luis Garcia Abad is quoted as telling Diario As. "I can confirm that. He is free to join any other team next season."