It seems Force India is planning a three way shoot out for driver’s seat for 2008, but the most interesting part is Fisichella and Schumacher who should be fighting for better teams are interested in Force India seat. If Mr. Mallya is planning to give chance to Fisi and Ralf, why can’t he try it out with Narain and Karun Chandhok, they are good drivers and deserve a chance.

Other testers would be Roldan Rodriguez, Giedo van der Garde, Christian Klien and Vitantonio Liuzzi…WOW! When was the last time we see so many drivers attached to one team, it’s their first season (not even the start of season) and are causing so much noise in team selection, hope they perform better too. Oops, I missed FIF1 already has a driver, Adrian Sutil, if he is planning to continue.

After leaving McLaren for almost a month, Alonso is yet to decide where he wants to go? Main problems he is facing are

• Renault is under scrutiny for a (yet another) spy scandal and might get hefty punishments similar to McLaren.
• Renault wants him to stay longer than one year, and he does not plan that ( he still believes that he can move to Ferrari next year)
• He does not want to join a team like Toyota which can give him enough money but not a good car. Red Bull also has the same issues.
• BMW/Williams are good option but their driver line-up is ready.

My Idea

Alonso should join Force India F1, I am not saying because I am Indian, but there is a plan. Let’s say Alonso joins FIF1, he can bring with him some good sponsors which can revamp the current bad funding to slightly improved situations. Then he starts the season with a car from back of the grid, but with his technical inputs, flawless driving he can take the car to middle-pack (competing with Toyota, Honda, Red Bull) by mid season, and by end of the season FIF1 might start challenging Williams.

Alonso will have double advantage doing this, He can gain his reputation as the (one of) best drivers in pack today with his shear brilliant driving and by the end of season people will forget about his cry-baby/jealous attitude. Second, Alonso will not be getting any competition from second driver whoever he might be (Rodriguez, Karthikeyan, Luizzi or Chandhok).

Take the worst team and by end of year make it really competitive, what a year it would be, he will make more fans than ever. Yeah it is a risk, but what is easy in formula1. He would be first person is formula one to be a hero without winning a single race.

Alonso’s options discussed :Renault, BMW, Red Bull, Williams, Toyota

Finally, it has been decided that F1 GP will take place in New Delhi in 2010, and according to Bernie Ecclestone, Karun Chandhok has good chances of making to F1 this year. ( check last para of this).

Karun Chandhok’s interview at formula1.com

BTW, no news from Alonso and his future team, is he planning a sabbatical?

After an action packed scandalous season and a grand finale in Brazil, I thought all the action is over, but it seems I was wrong.

Former Ferrari technical director, Ross Brawn is now team principle but for Honda, Jean Todt will be replaced as a sporting director of Ferrari, Renault has accepted possession of McLaren data but denied the usage (did we hear the same somewhere else this season?), Alonso is still uncertain where to go, Kathekiyan is (almost) set not to race in 2008, Schumacher is on track again and Hamilton is all set to become first $1 bn sports star.

This is too much, am finding very hard to see how 2008 season will be. Where will Alonso go or he will race or not? McLaren might start with negative points and if that happens what are the chances for Hamilton to win the championship (there are doubts already)? Where will Renault be after the scandal hearing, will they start from negative points or will be disqualified for a season? But in all this confusion, restructuring, there are few things that are clear. Kimi would start as World Champion and leading the pack with the fastest car on track.

Force India will appear first time on track 13th Nov to 15th Nov.
Testing team includes Roldan Rodriguez, Giedo van der Garde, Adrian Sutil, Christian Klien and Vitantonio Liuzzi. Rodriguez and Garde will test on Tuesday and Wednesday while Klien and Liuzzi will test on Thursday.

Karthikeyan seems to have missed the chance as Williams has already announced their line-up and Force India seems not too keen on Indian driver. Good news for Indian supporters is Karun Chandok is testing for Red Bull this winter and might get a test driver seat.

How?

• Toyota already have one vacancy and have budget to get any driver in F1, Alonso will be their first choice.
• If Rosberg plans to partner Hamilton in McLaren, Williams will definitely try to get Alonso.

The Good

Toyota will be the best deal in monetary terms for Alonso, but definitely Toyota is not a good car even with comparison to Red Bull and Williams, full season they were trying to get a place in Q3. Alonso’s inputs can be really beneficial for Toyota and they can justify there expenditure with Alonso’s skills.

Williams are trying to keep Roeberg away from McLaren, but there are good chances that McLaren will lure him. If that happens Alonso will be the only capable driver to get that seat, if Sir Williams does plan to give chance to Narain or some driver from GP2. Williams is doing well, and will do better with Alonso.

The Bad

For Alonso any deal will be a step down, it would be gain for team but lose for Alonso. Two time world champion moving to any car which is not competitive is bad.

Obstacle
Alonso has already denied Toyota’s deal and Williams have not offered any. But as we say everything in F1 is unpredictable, so still fingers crossed for the decision.

Alonso’s move to Renault, BMW, Red Bull

How?

• David Coulthard and Alonso racing together, Alonso no. one status and Webber moving to Renault, Fisi losing his seat.
• Webber helping Alonso winning the title, while DC sits out, might be end for him.

The Good
Reports suggest that, Alonso might move to Red Bull along with Brawn. Brawn is not happy with the way Stepney was handled by Ferrari, and is bored too after his sabbatical. He might want to come back and can join in with Alonso to take him to same heights as he did with Schumacher. Red Bull is ready to increase budgets in this case and certainly will have some chance (or at least) in next 2 years they can start challenging Ferrari/McLaren.

The Bad
Here also it would be a big step down for Alonso, moving from a dream team to C grade team.

The Ugly
This might be end to Alonso’s carrier is things don’t go well as predicted.

Obstacle
Is Alonso ready to take this risk? Will Brawn step against Ferrari? Red Bull is ready to spend that much on salaries and car development? Many questions at this point of time, but still a possibility.

Alonso’s move to Renault, BMW

How?

• Robert Kubica moving to McLaren and Nick and Alonso racing together.

The Good
BMW is a good car, great straight line speed, with good results this season. Team is focused and promising car for 2008. Alonso and Nick are good friends and definitely will be no problems as this year.
Alonso can bring first title for BMW.

The Bad/Ugly
Nothing bad about it, everyone will gain something out of this deal.

Obstacle
Nick and Kubica are both confirmed for ’08.

Alonso’s move to Renault.

How?

• Heikki Kovalainen moving to McLaren and Fisichella supporting Alonso.
• Kovalainen supporting Alonso for title, and Fisi looking for a job.

The Good
Alonso reuniting with Flavio can be best thing for Renault. Alonso knows the team well; His technical inputs and flawless driving with Flavio’s encouragement can definitely win him the title.

The Bad
For Alonso, going back to Renault will be a step down, he would (might) be paid lesser and it’s not certain that Renault’s performance will improve. That situation would be worse for his career.

The Ugly
Since US GP 2006, Fisi and Alonso were having some problems in Renault, same as with Alonso-Hamilton. In case Alonso returns he might have to struggle again with Fisi/Heikki.
If Heikki remain with Renault, most probably it will be end of career for Fisichella.

Obstacle
Flavio does not want one year contract from Alonso.

PS: This is first part of series, where we will discuss all possibilities for Alonso.