Speculation is rife that Fernando Alonso could be about to drop a bomb on the formula one silly-season.
Felipe Massa was spotted by paddock observers meeting with Toyota officials at Spa-Francorchamps, sparking rumours that he might need to vacate his Ferrari seat for 2008.
The tale ties in with fresh speculation that Jean Todt – whose son Nicolas manages Brazilian Massa, 26 – is increasingly under pressure to keep his top job at Ferrari, and also Toyota’s reluctance so far to confirm a teammate for Jarno Trulli in 2008.
It has long been suggested that reigning world champion Alonso’s most likely destination, if he leaves McLaren after a single unhappy season, is his former camp at Renault.
But the Ferrari gossip, raising the prospect of the Spaniard’s pairing with Kimi Raikkonen next year, is now gathering strength, including in the pages of the British newspaper The Daily Mail.
“One stumbling block exists, however,” the report read. “Would Ferrari be willing to buy out the remainder of Alonso’s contract with McLaren, believed to be worth at least (US) $20 million?”
