Alonso: Schumi won't go

ByEurosport

Published 20/04/2006 at 16:31 GMT

Fernando Alonso has laughed off suggestions that German rival Michael Schumacher could move to Renault next season after speculation he could replace the 24-year-old Spaniard, who moves to McLaren at the end of the year. Schumacher himself chose to play

"I laugh. With that one, I laugh," World Champion Alonso told reporters at the San Marino Grand Prix on Thursday.

"For me, it's impossible - knowing the team, knowing the bosses of the team, knowing Flavio. It's impossible that Michael comes here."

Schumacher's contract expires at the end of the season and he has yet to decide whether to continue racing or retire.

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RUMOURS

Alonso's McLaren deal was announced in December and he is glad not to be involved in the rumour mill.

"Every week we have a new history about Kimi (Raikkonen) or Michael - if he retires or not, if Kimi stays at McLaren or goes to Ferrari - Montoya to Red Bull or whatever," said the Spaniard.

"It's just what I didn't want to happen to me. In the first races of the championship I want to be concentrated.

"The announcement of the move to McLaren so early for sure had some disadvantages but it had some advantages also in my mind, to be relaxed and concentrated on winning and not having to answer a new paddock rumour at every race," said Alonso.

2006 San Marino GP Alonso

Image credit: Reuters

He played down the importance of his win against Schumacher in Imola, pointing out that Schumacher had not been a contender over the course of the year, also refusing to indicate expecting to win again on Sunday.

"If they (Ferrari) can win one race, it will be this one," he said. "But for me, for the championship it is not a big change. I prefer to finish second or third here and win again at the Nuerburgring (the next race)."

Alonso has won two of the three races this year and enjoys a 17-point advantage over fourth-placed Schumacher, who crashed out of the last round in Australia.

SCHUEY PLAYS DOWN RIVALRY

Michael Schumacher has played down the importance of Sunday's San Marino Grand Prix to Ferrari's title hopes while recognising that they cannot afford to fire any more blanks.

"Every race from now is important for us," the seven-times world champion told a news conference on Thursday at Imola, Ferrari's home circuit where he has won more times than any other Formula One driver.

"We took our jokers already, unfortunately, at the early time of the year and from now on its important that we make up ground from the points loss that we suffered from the first three races.

"It's always great to have a good result but it will not break us, whatever happens here," continued the German.

"Some words have been put in my mouth that I see this as a crucial, deciding race, which is not my point of view. It is an important race, yes, but not a crucial one."

2006 San Marino GP Michael Schumacher

Image credit: Reuters

Ferrari failed to score any points at the last race in Australia and are third in the constructors' standings, 27 points adrift of Renault.

The 37-year-old will have a new, upgraded engine for Sunday a race ahead of schedule as a result of that retirement in Melbourne, while Alonso must continue with the one from Australia.

Formula One's rules stipulate that engines must last for two successive races, being changed without penalty otherwise only in the event of a driver failing to finish.

"We have a new engine specification which gives you extra performance," said Schumacher.

"It doesn't really matter whether this engine is one or two races old because it is always planned for two races and should have equal performance for the first and the second.

"You don't talk about big amounts (of improvement), not on the engine side anyway...I don't think it makes a big difference.

"Whatever happens will happen," he said. "We believe in our abilities and we hope to prove them. It's no good keeping on talking about it, it's time to show it."

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