Alonso offered R343m to switch teams?

MARANELLO, Italy - Fernando Alonso has responded to speculation that he could be about to turn his back on Ferrari. Alonso’s title-less tenure in red has culminated in the 2014 V6 season through which so far the Maranello team has notably struggled.

It has triggered speculation that Alonso, the highest-paid and arguably most highly rated driver in the pits lane, could use a performance clause in his contract and return to McLaren.

‘I WANT TO WIN HERE’

Reports in recent days have suggested McLaren, desperate for a truly top driver to spearhead the looming Honda era, is offering Alonso an outrageous R343-million a year.

Sky TV on Tuesday (September 2) quoted Alonso as saying: "It's not my intention at the moment to move, I want to win here and finish the job that we started some years ago."

He acknowledged the rumours but insisted nothing that came "from my mouth" triggered them. Alonso said: "There was a lot of speculation, which is not disturbing but created tension and stress. Yet you also feel happy and proud that the best teams have an interest in you and say so in public."

ALONSO, SCHUMI COMPARISON

Also on Tuesday (September 2) ousted team boss Stefano Domenicali commented on Alonso and rumours about the Spaniard having been unhappy at Ferrari for some time.

Domenicali was quoted as saying by Ferrari insider Leo Turrini's blog: "It is not true that Alonso had a difficult situation with me or with the team.

"Fernando is a nice person and I say this honestly. Compared to Schumi, he certainly has a more open attitude towards communication and maybe sometimes a word is mistranslated but he has never been negative towards the team.

"He has been unlucky, we have been unlucky, but if we had won a couple of titles, nobody would criticise."