Plex
Zorce Jedi Master
Joined: 01 May 2005
Posts: 9039
Location: T&T
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 Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:02 am Post subject: F1: Telefonica may back Alonso�s Renault return |
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Spanish telecommunications giant Telefonica has reportedly backed Flavio Briatore�s campaign to reunite Renault with Fernando Alonso.
Coinciding with reigning world champion and Spaniard Alonso�s switch to McLaren, the Madrid based company - previously pledging $30m per year to Renault as a major sponsor - left the French team at the end of 2006. But subsequent to reports that the Enstone based outfit�s team principal Briatore is planning a meeting with Alonso in Turkey later this month, the specialist magazine Auto Motor und Sport says Telefonica might be willing to return to Renault if the disgruntled 26-year-old also comes back.
Triple world champion and commentator Niki Lauda told Bild newspaper that he doubts Briatore would fork out the necessary money to re-hire Alonso � unless a big backer like Telefonica can help. In addition to Alonso�s current (US) $27m per year salary, Briatore might also have to foot a multi-million bill to buy out Alonso�s McLaren contract.
�Briatore has never been willing to pay bills of that size,� Austrian legend Lauda noted. (GMM)
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