Team decision on Alonso future ‘soon’

THE future of Fernando Alonso will be decided by the first week of November, according to McLaren boss Ron Dennis.

It is anticipated that the two-time world champion will move on in the wake of a turbulent debut season with them.

But Alonso said he had not spoken to another team, while Dennis insisted the matter would be addressed over “the next two weeks.”

He said: “We feel we have a pretty clear understanding of the future, but we have not discussed it in detail.”

Dennis added: “The issue of the drivers is an issue we have continuously told you we will address at the end of the season, and it will be addressed over the course of the next two weeks.”

With Alonso’s contract at McLaren running through to 2008, and with an option for a third year, he may elect to ride the storm of another potentially rocky season.

The 26-year-old also surprisingly revealed that Renault would not be his first choice, even if he were to leave.

It had been widely speculated Alonso would happily return to the team that made him champion in 2005 and 2006.

Renault boss Flavio Briatore has also made no secret of his desire to see the Spaniard drive for him again.

But there are few teams in Formula One who could match Alonso’s multi-million pound salary.

One door was shut last week when Felipe Massa signed a new, three-year deal with Ferrari, while Alonso closed another himself in turning his back on a move to Toyota.

Massa may have a new deal but Ferrari remain impressed with Alonso. Team president Luca di Montezemolo said: “Alonso is world class in every sense.

“I have appreciated very much his sportsmanship. He lost by one point and I believe it wasn’t his fault.”

Dennis has barely spoken to Alonso since their bust-up on the morning of the Hungarian Grand Prix in August.

When asked whether he was glad the season was finally over given the stress and pressure of the spy scandal, and a number of other off-track problems, Dennis said: “Well, I am not glad it is over with the lack of a world championship.

“Understandably a few days will help the bruising, but at the end of the day it has been a great season and both drivers have got good results. It is just disappointing neither of them won the world championship.”