Berger: Alonso has to try for Red Bull drive

Former Ferrari driver Gerhard Berger believes that Fernando Alonso should ‘try everything’ in his pursuit of a race seat with Red Bull next year, stating that the Spaniard’s wait for a third world title will only increase while chief designer Adrian Newey remains at the Milton Keynes-based squad.

Berger, who previously owned a 50 percent stake in Toro Rosso alongside Red Bull chief Dietrich Mateschitz, noted that Alonso has already endured a fruitless three years at Ferrari, despite hauling an inferior car to a one-time 40 point championship lead last season. With a radically different rule set due to be introduced in 2014, Berger also alluded to Newey’s record of consistently producing front-running cars following a reset of the regulations.

"The way I see it, Alonso must react," the Austrian told German newspaper Bild. "He has now spent three years waiting for the title, and each time Red Bull was in the way. So he has to try everything to drive for Red Bull in 2014. The team has the brilliance of Adrian Newey, and that would guarantee him a competitive car."

Berger also accepted that the terms of Alonso’s contract may render any potential move difficult to achieve, but added that it wouldn’t be a completely impossible scenario.

"Alonso has a watertight contract with Ferrari until 2016, don’t forget, but maybe there are escape clauses that could give him the right to talk with Red Bull," he said.