Briatore eyes Lotus switch for Ferrari’s Alonso (2nd Update)

UPDATE #2 Now that Lotus is going to be using Mercedes engines next year (the first piece of this rumor) supposedly paid for by Canadian Billionaire Lawrence Stroll, is it possible Alonso is headed to Lotus so he has the superior Mercedes engines behind him? He recently denied he will have Mercedes power next year, but that could be a decoy.

09/25/14 (GMM) Lotus team owner Gerard Lopez, and the Fernando Alonso-connected Flavio Briatore, have played down the latest explosive F1 rumors.

Germany's Sport Bild claimed this week that Briatore, the former boss at Enstone and still playing a guiding role in protege Alonso's career, is behind an audacious bid to pave the way for a title bid at Lotus.

It all ties in not only with the rumors Alonso and Ferrari are in the obvious throes of divorce, but that Canadian retail billionaire Lawrence Stroll is interested in buying Lotus and paying for the struggling team's switch to F1-leading Mercedes power.

Faced with all the rumors, Luxembourger Lopez, the current Lotus team owner, is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport: "I read all about it for the first time on the internet yesterday."

Also commenting on the obviously complex situation was Briatore himself, although clear denials all on sides would sound different.

"Ferrari has not turned its back on anyone," he is quoted by Italy's Omnicorse, "but now is not the time to talk."

09/24/14

Would Alonso go from one backmarker to an even slower backmarker team? Maybe since they are getting Mercedes engines.

(GMM) Rumors about Fernando Alonso's future at Ferrari are continuing to run wild in the days after the Singapore grand prix.

Italy's respected La Gazzetta dello Sport claimed this week that the disgruntled Spaniard has now told the crisis-struck Maranello marque of his intention to leave.

Reportedly, this follows Alonso's behind-the-scenes demands about his willingness to see out the remaining two years on his existing Ferrari contract.

La Gazzetta said Alonso placed a number of conditions on his continuation, including a new monetary bonus system based on his collection of points that could boost his salary to the tune of EUR 100 million over the next three years.

And the newspaper also said that if Ferrari fails to reach certain performance milestones next year, another of Alonso's demands is that he will be free to leave at any point.

It is said that Ferrari team boss Marco Mattiacci, who may subsequently have been in contact with Sebastian Vettel, has not agreed to Alonso's rumored demands.

The latest wild twist in the sensational Alonso rumors is that Flavio Briatore, still involved in the 33-year-old driver's career and the former team boss at Enstone, is opening the door for a Lotus seat in 2015.

Sport Bild claims the deal is tied up with reports of Canadian fashion billionaire Lawrence Stroll's new interest in buying the struggling Enstone team.

Stroll would reportedly finance the Alonso deal as well as pay for F1-leading Mercedes engines for the currently Renault-powered team.

Frenchman Jules Bianchi, the leading Ferrari academy driver and current Marussia racer, is named as another possible successor for a departed Alonso.