From GMM
Two-time World Driving Champion and Renault driver
Fernando Alonso acknowledges that moving to the
Ferrari team for 2009 is not among his options.
Despite the Italian team's president stopping by the
Renault garage for a chat with the Spaniard at the recent Monza test, Luca di Montezemolo also made clear that Ferrari will head into next season with an unchanged driver line-up.
"It has always been known that their two drivers are under contract. It was never an option for next year," Alonso, 27, is quoted as saying by the Spanish newspaper
Diario AS at Spa-Francorchamps.
He plays down his reported conversation with Montezemolo.
"I saw him for five seconds; he asked me how I was doing," Alonso explained. "Next door was Fisichella and he gave him a hug. He also saw Hamilton."
It is clear that Renault, BMW-Sauber, Honda and Toyota are holding off on finalising their plans for 2009 while Alonso is still on the market.
Alonso said the fact that Ferrari is not an option for 2009 is not a problem for him.
"I am 27 and have enough time to get back to winning races and championships, whether with Ferrari or another team.
"When I won my two championships with Renault, Ferrari were behind me, so I am not afraid of the challenge."
In interview with the British broadcaster
ITV in Belgium on Thursday, Alonso would not rule out
driving for Ferrari in the future.
"I need to keep thinking not only for next year but also for the near future, so we will see," he said.
Alonso answered "I don't know" to whether he might be lining up a Ferrari drive for 2010.