Ferrari President Sergio Marchionne has rejected recent thoughts of Fernando Alonso returning to the Scuderia for 2018, just four years after he left.
Recently in Baku, the double world champion’s manager Flavio Briatore talked up the possibility as the Spaniard looks for a seat that will guarantee him competitiveness after three miserable seasons at McLaren.
Though the idea of a potential Vettel/ Alonso partnership would be appealing to many and with the second seat, indeed both seats at Ferrari yet to be filled for next year, Marchionne doesn’t seem interested.
“We have received requests for Alonso to return to Ferrari, but we have two very good drivers, so isn’t possible for him to return at the moment,” he said while attending Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix.
The Italian-Canadian also made it clear he wants Sebastian Vettel to remain at Maranello next season, putting the decision firmly into the hands of the four-time world champion.
“In the case of Sebastian, if he wants to continue to race, I made it very clear that if he wants to stay, we’ll just renew it. It’s up to him,” he insisted.
Earlier Marchionne had set a deadline of the Italian Grand Prix in September for Vettel to decide his future but that option doesn’t seem to extend to Kimi Raikkonen, of whom he described as a “laggard” after only finishing fifth in Spielberg.
“I don’t know, I haven’t talked to Kimi about what he really wants,” he commented. “I think all options are on the table.
“We are going to continue discussing this with Kimi, but I made it very clear if Sebastian wants to stay, then it was his option.”
