The McLaren team has signed 2005 World Champion Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard will join McLaren in 2007 when Vodafone becomes the team's title sponsor. "I'm very excited about 2007," said Alonso.

McLaren's team principal and chairman, Ron Dennis, commented on signing the youngest Formula One World Champion ever: "Its great that our strong belief in the strength and competitiveness of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes package has been further endorsed by the World Champion. We always make it clear that we want to be the best and the only way of achieving this objective is by attracting the best people, the best drivers and the best sponsors. To be able to announce Vodafone as only McLaren's third title partner in more than 30 years and Fernando's employment within only a few days is fantastic news for the team, our Partners, Formula One and the fans."

McLaren did not comment on driver speculations for 2007. "We are in discussions with our current drivers' Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya regarding the 2007 season," continues Ron Dennis. "Both Juan Pablo and Kimi are extremely talented, professional and competitive Formula One drivers and they have and will continue to concentrate on our joint challenge for the Championships."

Fernando Alonso commented about signing at McLaren: "To become part of a team with such a desire to succeed and passion for performance is a dream come true for any Formula One driver. "I'm very excited about 2007 and the fantastic opportunity to drive for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. It will be a new beginning for me and a tremendous challenge and from what I have heard about this exciting new partnership there is something to look forward to. Obviously I will be sad to leave Renault but sometimes possibilities come along which are just too good to miss. I'm pleased that we are able to make this announcement already now as it will allow my current team and I to focus 100 per cent on defending the World Championships next year."

Source F1 Racing.net

OH MY GOD that is big news!

Just think of the driving force- Kimi and Alonso and Montoya- invincible!

no...what will hapen to montoya that's not good news really the last thing i want is Mclaren winning because of Alonso. i hope Renault can win both 2006 & 2007

wow thanks for the news!

I'm sure this move is because they don't think they can get either Montoya or Raikkonen back for '07. Ron Dennis was said to have claimed privately last year that he thinks Raikonnen and Montoya are the two best drivers on the grid. Let's face it, Alonso won last year on reliability, not because he out-wheeled Kimi Raikkonen. With Ferrari looking at Raikonnen as the heir-apparent to Schumi, it's not bad insurance. Even of they keep Kimi, then they dump JP Montoya and then they have a lineup of Raikonnen and Alonso. not bad.

1. I'm sorry but you can't just win something on reliability that's nearly impossible...kartikeyan completed nearly all the GP's did he win one..no!! yes your be like but 'oh the cars are no match' which is true..but you can't just win on reliability
2. 'Alonso was lucky'..no you can't just win on luck that's impossible to
3. Once again you can't win on having the fastest car..Kimi proved that this year.
4. You can't win on pure driving skill either it depends on timing, which depends on qualifying, which depends on speed, which depends on driving skill, which depends on reliability.

in the end all the factors have to be perfect...it wan't kimi's championship..no way. Even if Alonso was in 2nd you still have to actaully be second to pick up when Kimi's car goes, you know i can't stand people who believe it was Kimi's championship, reliability is everyones responsibility.
Kimi's because pushed the car to hard and the team's because of how it's put together

This is rather odd I think. I wonder what the McLaren Mercedes' final line up will be for 2007.

no...what will hapen to montoya that's not good news really the last thing i want is Mclaren winning because of Alonso. i hope Renault can win both 2006 & 2007

bonjour sucky girl.


Renault can kiss my arse. I will be a fan of Minardi in 2007 because as of now McLaren has lost my respect. Alonso can kiss the other side of my arse.

I liked McLaren - 2007 will suck. Alonso is worthless.
I like Ferrari - great no matter what. (unless Alonso joins)
I like williams-bmw - awsome competition even though it is splitting as a team.
Hell, I even like Red Bull since Culthard is in it.

supporting minardi won't be much good now will it!!

too much hate towards Alonso and he is a much better driver than Kimi, and pretty much everyone else on the grid these days. because like it or not, he is world champion and the youngest one at it too. and that maybe luck, and reliability but for sure it is a sign of skill, and maturity.

i hate Alonso , I like McLaren , now he is in McLaren........so I like him....
the McLaren will be the Champion in 2007 ! :lol::):D

YAHOOOOOOOO !

bonjour sucky girl.


Renault can kiss my arse. I will be a fan of Minardi in 2007 because as of now McLaren has lost my respect. Alonso can kiss the other side of my arse.

I liked McLaren - 2007 will suck. Alonso is worthless.
I like Ferrari - great no matter what. (unless Alonso joins)
I like williams-bmw - awsome competition even though it is splitting as a team.
Hell, I even like Red Bull since Culthard is in it.

Once again, why bother even talking? 90% of what you say is just nothingness.

I'm a huge McLaren fan, and any true McLaren fan would welcome any world champion, even if they're "lucky" (that's total bull anyways). He's never shown any reason for me or anyone to not like him. He's a very solid driver. Plain and simple. That's exactly what McLaren needs. You'd be lying if you said that McLaren wouldn't be the most dominant team on the grid if they had Kimi and Alonso (or Juan Pablo and Alonso).

Ferrari had their day. They might have their day again once everyone switches back to bridgestone tires, but I somehow doubt it.

thats cool

Wait, Alonso great driver? I didn't hear this did I? Yes, I did.

He became great in a turn of a year. What did he do, take classed at NASA on how to pilot fast things? The season before he was worthless. I don't hate him as to the point where I make stuff up for him, I hate him because theres true things that he lacks. He lacks respect, love for the sport, AND skill. Since the season before he won nothing, since the new rules applied, since the "Big Teams" (mclaren, ferrari, williams) did not adopt as well, since the "Big Drivers" could not adopt as well to the new riles, Alonso got lucky WITH ALL of those "coincidences" and won. C'mon. Does anyone else see the pattern? We will see how he will do in McLaren, although I guarantamntee you that he will kiss whoever the other driver's ass (be it montoya or kimi). No matter what he won, hes worthless. I am probably taking the anger out on the wrong place because I think the regulations are the ones to blame.

If Alonso goes to Mclaren in 2007 that means that the rumor of Raikkonen going to Ferrari in 2007 could be more that just a simple rumor.

Wow. This came of left field, for sure. I don't really see the logic of moving from an already-successful formula with the Renault F1 team. But, I guess this sport really revolves around money.

This does serve up an interesting scenario for 2007 though - even the 2006 season. If I'm not mistaken, Schumacher's Ferrari contract ends at the end of the '06 Season, and there are heavy rumous of him retiring ater that, which leaves an interesting place open at arguably the most dominant F1 team over the past few years. This means that, if Schumacher retires, the big money will be on a McLaren driver to take up a position there - Raikkonen or Montoya. This means that both drivers will be doing their absolute best to impress the Ferrari F1 team in the '06 Season.

Should be interesting.

If Alonso goes to Mclaren in 2007 that means that the rumor of Raikkonen going to Ferrari in 2007 could be more that just a simple rumor.

Now thats something I would applaud. The person I would LOVE to replace schumi when/if he retires is probably culthard and/or kimi.

TS:They probably made up their mind on who they will pick though. There are a few things that they look at. They don't mind "championships" as much as they mind skill and ability to work with the team. I wouldnt mind either of them as long as its not some unknown. Hell, I'll even like it if trulli, fisi, or ralf to replace schumi. Ralf would be a better choice of the last few but who knows. It will mix things up a bit. The spotlight the past years has been on maximum 10 key racers.

Wow. This came of left field, for sure. I don't really see the logic of moving from an already-successful formula with the Renault F1 team. But, I guess this sport really revolves around money!

Unfortunately, most sports nowadays revolve around money. Soccer, football and even motorsports. Its quite sad really.

Ultimately its alonso's choice though.

Wait, Alonso great driver? I didn't hear this did I? Yes, I did.

He became great in a turn of a year. What did he do, take classed at NASA on how to pilot fast things? The season before he was worthless. I don't hate him as to the point where I make stuff up for him, I hate him because theres true things that he lacks. He lacks respect, love for the sport, AND skill. Since the season before he won nothing, since the new rules applied, since the "Big Teams" (mclaren, ferrari, williams) did not adopt as well, since the "Big Drivers" could not adopt as well to the new riles, Alonso got lucky WITH ALL of those "coincidences" and won. C'mon. Does anyone else see the pattern? We will see how he will do in McLaren, although I guarantamntee you that he will kiss whoever the other driver's ass (be it montoya or kimi). No matter what he won, hes worthless. I am probably taking the anger out on the wrong place because I think the regulations are the ones to blame.

You've got to be nuts. You really must be. Luck has nothing to do with it. In 2003 (his first real year of competition), he finished in 6th in the driver's championship. In 2004, he came in 4th, right behind Jenson Button and the two Ferrari drivers. In 2005 he won. He's been in numerous karting championships, almost alays being the youngest and the fastest in his group. He's the most natural driver I've ever seen since Stirling Moss or Alain Prost.

And it's not like he came up from an insanely rich background. He lived a comfortable life, which is pretty rare for snobby formula 1 drivers. He always had to get good grades in school, or he wasn't allowed to race. He's learned to respect everything. I think he's a very calm, collected person.

I don't want to hear this crap about regulations, either. Stop crying just because Ferrari isn't anything to sneeze at now. No need to point fingers at the FIA.

Damn, I never thought I've be defending Fernando like this.

You shouldnt. Hes worthless.

Yeah I'm mad that ferrari performed worse than my poop, yeah im mad that McLaren didn't do good, but it still doesn't change the fact that I hate Alonso and Renault to go with it. It probably puts it on a different level, maybe to the extreme but it doesn't change the idea.

anyway, leave fernando in his old thread where we knocked heads for pages and pages.

Congrats to him and McLaren.

montoya is more worthless than alonso.
boot montoya keep iceman, get alonso.

its coulthard btw

Wait, Alonso great driver? I didn't hear this did I? Yes, I did.

He became great in a turn of a year. What did he do, take classed at NASA on how to pilot fast things? The season before he was worthless. I don't hate him as to the point where I make stuff up for him, I hate him because theres true things that he lacks. He lacks respect, love for the sport, AND skill. Since the season before he won nothing, since the new rules applied, since the "Big Teams" (mclaren, ferrari, williams) did not adopt as well, since the "Big Drivers" could not adopt as well to the new riles, Alonso got lucky WITH ALL of those "coincidences" and won. C'mon. Does anyone else see the pattern? We will see how he will do in McLaren, although I guarantamntee you that he will kiss whoever the other driver's ass (be it montoya or kimi). No matter what he won, hes worthless. I am probably taking the anger out on the wrong place because I think the regulations are the ones to blame.
I cant understand you..Alonso earned himself that spot...though I fell he back stabbed Renault how gave him a chance in F1....owell change is good...BTW Alonso saved F1...people were getting tired of Schmi.He put up the competion

I think I get the reason that everyone hates Alonso...
Is it because he isn't like Schumi, a star (I have a word in Greek but I don't know how to translate it in English!!!!!!!) and he keeps everything low?
I mean come on... I don't like him either but not because he isn't a great driver!!! He is one of the best! Remember how he managed to not let Schumi pass him on a race (I don't remember when that was)?
The thing is with Renault... There was a rumour last year that they had Fisichela's car as a car for tests and they had a one car only strategy... Altough they kept on saying that the cars where the same...

apprently there is not going to be a Reanult F1 team in 2007

apprently there is not going to be a Reanult F1 team in 2007

Well that's odd.

apprently there is not going to be a Reanult F1 team in 2007

I have serious doubts about that. And the sources I use to get my information haven't said a word about Renault leaving.

i wonder how much money mcLaren offer???
Come on Alonso is good driver and renault good team!
raikonen is good driver too but always something happend blame mclaren or michlen.....To win the champion, driver is not enough All the team must be on time and made less mistakes!
I used to support montoya but he let me down.

i wonder how much money mcLaren offer??

Rumours say it's a 3 year contract with an option for a fourth year, and Alonso would get $96 million spread out over those three years.

apprently that's what teams like that do..they find out their spending to much money and bam they give up

apprently there is not going to be a Reanult F1 team in 2007


Scratch everything I said about 2007. I LOVE 2007.

well except the alonso to mclaren part. He should stay in renault and die with it in 2007.

a bit harsh... I just dont like him. Theres nothing more to it. Hes pathetic in my eyes.

Technically...it's a good thing though erind...it means that Kimi should get a chance at Ferrari and they can get Alonso out the way to give him a smooth transfer!

I think kimi is great on mclaren though. I want it back to the olden days.
Coulthard + Kimi
Ralf + montoya
Barichello + m.schumi


Or even better: Hakkinen and Coulthard years. (basically all)

yes but you have to realise people move on nothing's the same forever

yes but you have to realise people move on nothing's the same forever

I know, I know. But you hae to agree those own today's races BY FAR!!!

We'll see what happens. All my yabber here doesnt change anything.

yeah they were better
but yeah it's not let's just see what happens

I know, I know. But you hae to agree those own today's races BY FAR!!!


I totally disagree. This past championship was full of nail-biting moments. I don't watch something unless it's really exciting, and I watched as many races as I possibly could this year. That's saying something.

They said on sports tonight last night

that:
Mark webber may move to renault in 2007
Kimi will move to ferrari to replace schumacher who is apparantly retiring
alonso to mclaren.

would be interesting if it panned out this way.

They said on sports tonight last night

that:
Mark webber may move to renault in 2007
Kimi will move to ferrari to replace schumacher who is apparantly retiring
alonso to mclaren.

would be interesting if it panned out this way.

Wow...webber to renault, kimi to ferrari, and alonso to mclaren! I agree with you, this is gonna' be good...

Wow...webber to renault, kimi to ferrari, and alonso to mclaren! I agree with you, this is gonna' be good...

What's the good thing about Webber going to Renault!?!?!? Those are bad news for Renault, they lose Alonso and they get Webber. Could that be worse?

there is no ay in hell kimi is going to ferrari or ferrari is even remotly thinking about kimi...unless he learns how to keep calm and race with maturity same as dumbass juanpablo, ferrari will never take a driver like that never have in the past and i doubt they will now

Webber to renault? NOOOOOOOO. Renault needs someone like de la rosa, or karthikeyan.

Renault are pulling out and wont have a spot on the grid in 07. It just hasnt been made public yet, Alonso has just confrimed his place in another big team thats all. I hope Ferrari shape up and get their f***ing tyres/ balance right before Kimi joins them.

its a shame that the great racer alonso goes the the enemy...:mad: