Alonso could take race engineer to McLaren (Update)
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| Alonso looking to steal what he can from Ferrari? |
(GMM) Officially, Fernando Alonso is still deciding if he should leave Ferrari for another team.
But behind the scenes, the Spaniard's switch to McLaren-Honda for next year is definitely done.
It is believed he will be at Woking on Wednesday, where the multi-year contract with suitable exit clauses and valued at up to EUR 35 million per season may be physically signed.
An announcement before the season finale in Abu Dhabi is expected.
There are other signs that the Alonso move is definitely happening. It has emerged this week that the 33-year-old could be taking his Ferrari race engineer, Andrea Stella, with him to McLaren.
Italy's Autosprint also claims that up to 15 McLaren employees are leaving, with correspondent Alberto Antonini suggesting the British team is "making room" for Alonso.
Indeed, there are rumors Alonso may also be taking Ferrari's sporting director Massimo Rivola with him and several other engineers including Edoardo Brosco.
Spain's Marca, meanwhile, reports that the Spanish mobile phone operator Movistar is keen to link up with Alonso to McLaren, following "several meetings" between representatives of both sides.
Finally, a McLaren source has denied reports that what amounts to a 'B-car' penned by new team aerodynamics chief Peter Prodromou will be taken to Abu Dhabi and tested in Friday practice.
The source said it is "spot-on" to surmise that the reporter for Britain's Sky simply misinterpreted Spanish reports that said McLaren's Honda-powered interim car may make its debut at the post-race Abu Dhabi test.
When asked about the Honda car, team boss Eric Boullier had told the Marca daily in Brazil: "We will take the decision in ten days but it (the debut) could be in Abu Dhabi.
"If we are not ready then we go to plan B or C," the Frenchman added.
The McLaren source said the decision about whether to take the Honda car to Abu Dhabi for the post-race test has not yet been taken.
11/11/14 (GMM) Fernando Alonso could take his race engineer from Ferrari to McLaren-Honda for 2015, it has emerged.
Germany's Speed Week reports that, with the Spaniard said to have now definitely agreed his return to Woking, he wants to take Italian engineer Andrea Stella with him.
It is also rumored that with Sam Michael stepping down as McLaren's sporting director, the team might replace him with Massimo Rivola, who has a similar position at Ferrari currently.
The reports suggest Stella and Rivola – and perhaps other names at Ferrari – were among Alonso's demands as he negotiated his McLaren contract, which could explain the long delay in the announcement of the deal.