[f1ferrari] Fernando Alonso finalize switch to McLaren F1

UPDATE: Breaking News

McLaren now deciding who Alonso's teammate will be.......

Spain's El Mundo Deportivo claims that after a deal between the Spaniard and McLaren was finally struck in Brazil, he is set to travel to the team's British headquarters on Wednesday to sign what is probably the most lucrative contract in F1 history.

Flavio Briatore, involved in Alonso's management throughout his F1 career, hinted at the McLaren move in an interview with Italian radio Rai.

"Fernando wants to go to a team where there is the possibility to win in the future, even if it is not immediately," said the Italian.

Briatore suggested Alonso's patience with Ferrari had slowly faded over five championship-less seasons.

"Ferrari will always remain in Alonso's heart, it is a team he loves, even though every year it was always spoken about the next one and nothing happened.

"There was also a little disappointment in not seeing an aggressive recruitment of engineers and staff that could raise the bar of the team," Briatore added.
The decision

It is believed the only obstacle to a McLaren-Honda announcement being made now is the collaboration's decision on who will be Alonso's teammate.

On the face of it, and judging by his comments and body language in Brazil last week, Jenson Button looks set to be ousted, leaving the young Dane Kevin Magnussen as Alonso's teammate.

But Alonso is said to prefer to have Button on his side, as the former world champions' combined experience will push along the development of the new Honda V6 engine.

"I hope he (Button) stays (in F1)," France's Le Figaro quotes Alonso as having said at Interlagos.

"He is a very talented driver and a good person. People like him are good for our sport."

Button, however, is not so sure Alonso will have the power to influence the decision.

"It's a tricky one. Who knows what's going on inside Fernando's head?" Button is quoted by British newspapers after the Brazilian Grand Prix.

In the end, McLaren's decision could be a financial one, with Button costing the team multiple millions per year more than the rookie Magnussen.

Button, however, has hinted that he might be prepared to take a pay-cut.

"I still want to earn money from it," he said, "but I'm not a driver who takes the mick and I will race somewhere even if I'm not getting the big bucks, unlike a few drivers who are out there."
Part of the family

If he does go, it will be a sad farewell for F1's long-serving Button, who might be forgiven for sounding disappointed in McLaren for not going him more notice after an illustrious 15-year career.

"It's like if your parents were to turn round and say 'We're not sure we want you at Christmas this year. But your brother can come, he's great'," Button said.

"Feeling part of a family is more important than money."

Former McLaren driver David Coulthard agrees that McLaren has treated Button disrespectfully, having accusing the Woking team of seeing drivers as "light bulbs".

"Maybe it (that comment) has had some reaction from the team, but I stand by my view," the Scot told the Telegraph newspaper.

"The right thing is to treat people well. To have him (Button) hanging on like this is unfair. Going into the last race should be a celebration - if it is to be his last - but we may not know.

"He deserves better," Coulthard added.




Fernando Alonso's switch to the McLaren Formula 1 team is set to be confirmed before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, once the team knows who his team-mate will be.


Last race in red?


Sources close to the Woking-based outfit have revealed that Alonso has now finalized a big-money move from Ferrari to McLaren next year, renewing a partnership that ended prematurely in 2007 after a tumultuous campaign.

His decision to accept McLaren's overtures has, however, forced the team into making a difficult decision between Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen for the seat alongside him.

Choosing between Button and Magnussen:

The closeness of their performances this year has left the team unable to come to a swift conclusion about who should line up alongside Alonso.

For while Magnussen has impressed with his pace this season, it is Button's higher scoring rate and experience, which would help development of the new Honda engine, that has left some senior figures believing it should go with him.

It is suggested that Alonso would prefer for Button to remain on board next year because it would help accelerate the team's push towards the front of the grid.

However, financial factors could also play a role in the decision, with Magnussen being a much cheaper option for the team.

BRAZIL PERFORMANCE A BOOST FOR BUTTON

Button did his chances of earning a new contract no harm in the Brazilian Grand Prix, coming home fourth behind the two Mercedes drivers and Felipe Massa's Williams.

It is understood that meetings will take place at Woking this week to finally settle whether it is Button or Magnussen who stays on board in 2015.

Button: I've got nothing to prove

Button said at the weekend he is keeping focused on his driving, hoping it is enough to win over McLaren's bosses.
Kevin Magnussen, Jenson Button, USGP 2014



Alonso finished sixth in last weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix and the 33-year-old is currently fifth in the overall standings for this season.

But even with the innovation of double-points for the season's climax in the UAE, there is no way he can close the gap on the Mercedes' leading duo of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

One source added that the only reason why Alonso's move to McLaren, for whom he drove in one turbulent season in 2007, had not yet been confirmed was because the management of the British team had still to decide on which of their two current drivers, Jenson Button and Kevin Magnusson, would remain to pilot their other car.

Button, after finishing fourth at the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo on Sunday, said he was still in the dark regarding McLaren's driver line-up for 2015.




Last month, reigning champion Sebastien Vettel announced he was quitting Red Bull, with whom he was won four successive world titles.

That led to reports the German was being lined up for a move to Ferrari, Formula One's most iconic team.

VETTEL ANNOUNCEMENT IMMINENT


Confirmation of Alonso's 2015 plans will clear the way for Ferrari to finally go public that his replacement next year will be Sebastian Vettel.

Will F1 driver moves pay off?

As part of its settlement with Alonso to end his contract early, Ferrari agreed that it would not announce its 2015 line-up until the Spaniard had settled his future.

However, Red Bull's decision to go public at the Japanese Grand Prix that Vettel was leaving for Ferrari has meant his switch to Maranello became an open secret.

Vettel needs 'spectacular' Ferrari car
When Fernando Alonso's switch to McLaren-Honda is finally announced, Ferrari can also lift the lid on the open secret of German Vettel's move from Red Bull.

But Briatore, a flamboyant former F1 team boss and closely aligned to Alonso's management, says Vettel needs to hope for a highly competitive Ferrari if he expects to add a fifth drivers' title to his tally.

"With all due respect I have for him," the Italian told Rai radio, "I think Sebastian always had a very good car.

"In this first year with a car that is not perfect, Ricciardo beat him," he noted. "I hope he finds a spectacular Ferrari."

There are rumours that although Red Bull is blocking Vettel from doing the post-Abu Dhabi test for Ferrari, he will be free to join Ferrari in the days immediately after.

So the rumours suggest Vettel will be presented formally as Ferrari's 2015 driver at the Finali Mondiali event in Abu Dhabi in early December, at the Ferrari World theme park.

Meanwhile, the Osterreich newspaper reports that Gerhard Berger is once again being linked with a possible move to become Ferrari team boss from 2015.