Monday November 19, 11:20 PM
Briatore says Alonso 60 percent sure to go to Renault
MILAN (Reuters) - Double Formula One world champion
Fernando Alonso is 60 percent certain to rejoin Renault next
season, team boss Flavio Briatore said on Monday.
Spaniard Alonso split with McLaren this month after a
bitter and controversial season where he finished third in the
drivers championship.
"Renault will definitely have different drivers next year.
There is a 60 percent chance Alonso will be with us," Briatore
was quoted as saying on radio show GrParlamento by Italian news
service ANSA.
Briatore's words appear to spell the end at Renault for
drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Heikki Kovalainen
"We have an advantage (in taking Alonso) because we know
him. Between today and the day after tomorrow it will be
decided," Italian Briatore added.
Toyota announced earlier on Monday that Germany's Timo
Glock will race for them next season, replacing compatriot Ralf
Schumacher and further narrowing Alonso's options.
Alonso left Renault for McLaren last year after winning
back-to-back drivers' titles with the French team.
"When you marry, split up and get back together it is not
easy," Briatore said.
He also commented on Formula One's new spy probe in which
Renault have been charged with unauthorised possession of
confidential McLaren information. The team have suspended an
employee who had data on "old-style floppy discs".
"When we discovered everything, we informed McLaren and
(world governing body) the FIA. We found out who had brought
these disks. When you have a thousand employees it is difficult
to notice what is happening," he said.
(Writing by Mark Meadows; Editing by Justin Palmer)
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