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[tifosi]

Havent seen this posted yet, so I thought I would post it.

Santander to switch from McLaren to Ferrari

26 November 2008

Spanish bank Santander will become sponsor of the Scuderia Ferrari as of 2010 according to the bank's president. Emilio Botin, the bank's president, confirmed at a football meeting in Paraguay his bank will move from McLaren to Ferrari.


Santander joined the McLaren team as a major sponsor in 2007 when Fernando Alonso joined the Woking base team. Fernando Alonso and McLaren ended their partnership at the end of their first season though and it was impossible for the bank to end its contract early. The team signed a contract for three season that will come to an end at the end of the 2009 Formula 1 season.

"Santandar will become Ferrari's sponsor as of 2010, this is one thing that is certain," said Botin. According to Spanish media Santandar's sponsorship is another sign the Italian's are extremely interested to sign double world champion Fernando Alonso. Botin would love to see the Spaniard at Ferrari but remains realistic: "Alonso is the best driver in the world and we would love to work with him again. Unfortunately this is not our call though."

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en

Personally, I'm really happy with this! I really do want to see Fernando at Ferrari in the future, and this gives that more hope.

What do you guys think? Discus!

[texasmr2]

Sorry man this is old new's and the 'search' option could have let you know this, thread closed.

[darwin dali]

It is kinda old news, but it was confirmed yesterday and thus, it's news again - so this thread is unlocked

When I read it and saw their motivation, i.e., they would like to team up with FA again, I wondered why they wouldn't switch to Renault and help their man financially to become a driver in a competitive team? Especially in light of the fact that ING, the current Renault sponsor, is a financial institution on weak footing having to accept bailout money from the Dutch government.

[la-ultima-curva]

does this not semi-confirm alonso's move to ferrari? not that i believe its in ferrari's best interest, they should've snapped him up after his stint at mclaren.
but if it is true, i can not see either masa nor kimi playing second fiddle to alonso and visa versa.
and if ferrari did sign up alonso who would be the second driver if the aforementioned drivers opted out of their contracts (can't remember till when both kimi and massa have signed). i reckon vettel would be an excellent choice but again you have the problem of a young up-start paired with alonso.. and we all know how that turned out at mclaren.

suppose its all speculation at the moment and we'll only find out nearer end of the season.

texas, i know its old news, so sorry for posting

[tifosi]

does this not semi-confirm alonso's move to ferrari? not that i believe its in ferrari's best interest, they should've snapped him up after his stint at mclaren.
but if it is true, i can not see either masa nor kimi playing second fiddle to alonso and visa versa.
and if ferrari did sign up alonso who would be the second driver if the aforementioned drivers opted out of their contracts (can't remember till when both kimi and massa have signed). i reckon vettel would be an excellent choice but again you have the problem of a young up-start paired with alonso.. and we all know how that turned out at mclaren.

suppose its all speculation at the moment and we'll only find out nearer end of the season.

texas, i know its old news, so sorry for posting

This is what I'm thinking... Raikkonen was signed for an extra two years until the end of 2010, which is when we would see Santander switch to Ferrari. Now, there have been various rumors about Kimi not liking the sport anymore and about retiring. So, I think that when his contract is over, Alonso will take up his seat and join Massa. Neither of them will be named a number two driver, they will both be treated as Massa and Kimi have these past two seasons. Also, I think that Massa will end up retiring at Ferrari (depending on his performance, which has shown tremendous improvement), and after Massa leaves, Vettel will probably join Ferrari with Alonso. I do remember reading something regarding Schumacher wanting Vettel to join Ferrari, so we'll see what happens.

[kerc]

does this not semi-confirm alonso's move to ferrari? not that i believe its in ferrari's best interest, they should've snapped him up after his stint at mclaren.
but if it is true, i can not see either masa nor kimi playing second fiddle to alonso and visa versa.
and if ferrari did sign up alonso who would be the second driver if the aforementioned drivers opted out of their contracts (can't remember till when both kimi and massa have signed). i reckon vettel would be an excellent choice but again you have the problem of a young up-start paired with alonso.. and we all know how that turned out at mclaren.

suppose its all speculation at the moment and we'll only find out nearer end of the season.

texas, i know its old news, so sorry for posting

This is what I'm thinking... Raikkonen was signed for an extra two years until the end of 2010, which is when we would see Santander switch to Ferrari. Now, there have been various rumors about Kimi not liking the sport anymore and about retiring. So, I think that when his contract is over, Alonso will take up his seat and join Massa. Neither of them will be named a number two driver, they will both be treated as Massa and Kimi have these past two seasons. Also, I think that Massa will end up retiring at Ferrari (depending on his performance, which has shown tremendous improvement), and after Massa leaves, Vettel will probably join Ferrari with Alonso. I do remember reading something regarding Schumacher wanting Vettel to join Ferrari, so we'll see what happens.

Alonso and Vettel at Ferrari...Hot damn, that would be pretty killer. And I'm a McLaren fan!

[la-ultima-curva]

Alonso and Vettel at Ferrari...Hot damn, that would be pretty killer. And I'm a McLaren fan!

as am i, but those two paired would make for an awesome shoot out. ferrari have been lacking two extremely good drivers for a long while, not that i'm taking anything away from kimi and massa, but kimi's performance this year has been some what suspect. rubens is also a decent driver but is prone to brain fade and yo-yo performance. and there's irvine... not much to be said there.

i'm keen to find out what mclaren's plans are for their line up, obviously lewis will remain, the question is on kovi and if he under performs again they will need to look at mabye di resta after his stint at force india (mcforce mcindia ), if thats going to go forward.

[2eyebrows]

Nooooooo. Not alonso please no. I beg you!

[AKR]

ALONSO
ALONSO
ALONSO
ALONSO
ALONSO

[2eyebrows]

ALONSO
ALONSO
ALONSO
ALONSO
ALONSO

No. Great Driver. Complete sausageface. But we do need someone of his calibar it must be said.
I just remamber him saying "i will never race for Ferrari I'll be great without them" or something like that claiming he was too good. Now, thats all he dreams about. I can't take double standards.

[la-ultima-curva]

ALONSO
ALONSO
ALONSO
ALONSO
ALONSO

No. Great Driver. Complete sausageface. But we do need someone of his calibar it must be said.
I just remamber him saying "i will never race for Ferrari I'll be great without them" or something like that claiming he was too good. Now, thats all he dreams about. I can't take double standards.

things change... but to be honest i was glad when he left mclaren. he is bit of a prima-dona and hot headed... but which f1 driver isn't?

[2eyebrows]

Hu? Suasageface? I did'nt say that.

[la-ultima-curva]

Hu? Suasageface? I did'nt say that.

don't use naughty words

[2eyebrows]

he is bit of a prima-dona and hot headed... but which f1 driver isn't?

Most of em are a bit of a prima donna perhaps ... but Alonso was .. is a bigtime prima Donna. He behaved horribly in 07.

[8-ball]

Alonso in a Ferrari would be fantastic but would he be able to handle not being outright number 1? - My guess is No also there is no way Massa and eventually Vettel will ever roll over the way Reubens did.

Will he go if Renault are back to their best and building world title winning cars? - Again No. If it ain't broke don't fix it. If Renault are winning and he is number 1 why leave? He may get prestige and reliability from Ferrari but its obvious that he can't handle a team where they don't all bend over backwards for him