Fernando Alonso has hinted that he will stay with Renault for 2009, it has been reported.
The Spaniard has made clear his intention to join a race winning team in 2009, but with Ferrari confirming their driver line-up and BMW Sauber reportedly having a long-term contract snubbed by the double world champion, that only leaves Honda as a plausible option.
Alonso has moved to defend Renault’s disappointing year giving weight to the theory that he will stay put with the French team next year.
“The problems with our current car are poor adaptation to the Bridgestone tyres, a few tenths behind with the engine, and an aerodynamic deficiency,” the 27-year-old is quoted as saying by the Spanish press.
“But they are all problems we have solved to a great extent during the championship. We started the year in eleventh or twelfth positions and a second behind BMW, and now we are ahead of them.”
“Looking ahead to next year, hopefully everything will be in place to fight for the championship.”
“If the budget goes up, it will be good and the team will improve, but that is not something that will influence my decision about 2009 one way or another.”