UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Renault should look at '09

Alonso tells team

Jun.11 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has asked Renault to seriously consider abandoning development of the current car so as to focus on readying for 2009.

Pat Symonds, the French team's engineering chief, admitted recently that the sweeping rule changes for 2009 poses a dilemma for those teams that cannot juggle continuing to develop the 2008 car and also focus on designing the entirely new machine.

"We are a big team but we are not big enough to handle two major projects and I think some of the people who are maybe struggling a little bit this year, for example Honda, I think have pushed a lot more effort into next year than we have been able to," Symonds said.

Renault has improvements for the R28 due both at Magny Cours next weekend and also Silverstone in July.

Former world champion Alonso, whose current contract would allow him to leave Renault at the end of the season, advises the team to contemplate switching its attention to 2009.

"It's a difficult decision, and I have a strong opinion about it," he is quoted as saying by the BBC.

Alonso, 26, says the performance of the improvements for France and Britain should influence Renault's final decision about what to do.

"Maybe at those tracks it will be good, so we can carry on developing this car.

"If it's not good, maybe the season will already be over so it's time to think about next year," he added.

Written: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:31:00