Renault hope they've convinced Alonso to stay

FERNANDO ALONSO

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Tuesday 30th September 2008

Renault believe they have done everything possible to prove to Fernando Alonso that they are on the way back up again.

The French squad made a difficult start to the 2008 campaign, but improved as the season went along. Their hard work finally paid off on Sunday when Alonso won the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix.

Renault, who are in a battle with BMW and Honda to secure the Spaniard's signature for next season, believe they've done enough to convince the double World Champion to stay with them.

"I am sure, to be perfectly honest, he (Alonso) would probably rather be sitting in a Ferrari or McLaren and, in the back of the mind, feels that for next year," technical director Bob Bell told Autosport.

"But I think we have gone not just through a lot of effort on the track to prove to him that this team is on the way back up again, but also with our facilities in the factory, and what we are doing, how we are organised, to show him this team are serious about winning.

"We are not in this to make up the midfield - and I hope we have done enough to convince him to stay with us. I think we have. But I don't know."

Bell says their main target for the year is to finish fourth in the Constructors' Championship.

"We still stick by our objectives - we have to finish fourth in the Championship, we have to be able to split the BMWs and occasionally fight for a podium. That is what we are all about this year."

F1 Drivers Championship 2008: Hamilton, L 2/7

Your Comments

Terji

"ilAlfisto: Well, he had the balls to go up against a whole TEAM last year, as RD said so himself "We are racing Alonso" But what do we know.. Maby Kubica is a much bigger treath than the whole McLewis team put together:) Atleast we know he can score just as many points as them, all on his own:) Cheers.."

mr2fenomen

"He will go to Ferrari , or BMW , or Honda... One thing`s for sure, he will never be a world champion again, because is Lightning McQueen. A one man show that doesn`t see the need of the team around him. What Schumi were for Ferrari, and Mika were for McLaren, will newer happen with Alonso, because he is not loyal to anybody."

framedrelay

"Looking at the last result, its hard to make any comment or predict how much Renault has improved. We will have to wait till Japanese GP, which will show the true colors of all teams. If Renault can put good laptimes, Yes, they have improved. Its a pain seeing the most capable guy in F1 stuck with the worst team & fighting with Ferrari, McLaren & BMW. He deserves much better than Renault - if they cant improve. "

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