Entrevista a Alonso en la ITV
http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=43036
Fernando Alonso admits it is “quite impossible” to predict which teams will emerge strongest in next season’s new era of rules – making his decision on where to drive in 2009 all the more difficult.
The Spaniard said earlier this week that he would make a decision on whether to remain at Renault next season towards the end of this year, with his choice likely to be based on whether he feels the former champions can return to the front of the field.
But with heavy revised aerodynamic regulations, the reintroduction of slick tyres and Kinetic Energy Recovery systems (KERS) all to be incorporated into the design of next year’s cars, there is the prospect that the current pecking order could be significantly shaken up.
And while some teams – notably the title challengers – are having to split their development resources between this year's and next year’s cars, Honda is one team that has openly admitted that its main focus is on building a strong package for 2009.
When asked by ITV Sport’s Ted Kravitz at Magny-Cours on Thursday if Honda’s approach could make it an attractive option for next season, Alonso admitted any potential drive would be tough to evaluate.
“Who knows?” he told Ted.
“I think for next year things are a little bit more difficult than normal because the rule changes will be massive and with the new aerodynamics, the KERS system, the slick tyres, it will be quite impossible to predict which teams will be better adapted to the new rules.
“So Honda may make one of the biggest improvements – but at the moment it’s difficult to guess.”
Renault, currently a disappointing seventh in the constructors’ championship, could have been another team to take advantage of its current difficulties by shifting focus to next year – but its technical director Bob Bell has said it will maintain an “aggressive development” push with its current R28 car.
Alonso gave cautious support to that strategy on Thursday.
“I don’t have a strong opinion on that,” he told reporters.
“It seems that they are finding some good things on this year’s car, so they don’t want to stop, because they are in a good move now and they want to keep developing this car.
“Hopefully we can see the results very soon.”
He added that he felt Renault would be looking in good shape for 2009 if by the end of this year he was challenging for podium finishes.
“Hopefully I can progress, I can finish on the podium this year, and that will be pretty good for next year,” he said.