Alfonso will replace Button in the 2003 Season
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Alfonso will replace Button in the 2003 Season
Renault announced today that Fernando Alonso will replace Jenson Button for the 2003 season. Jarno Trulli will continue as the second driver. Renault F1 President Patrick Faure said that the choice between Button and Alonso had been a very difficult one. Faure also said that Button has done a great job this year, scoring points regularly whilst showing commitment and team spirit and they have all greatly appreciated his efforts and achievements. However, Faure added that Renault's long-term strategy is based on investing in drivers who can guarantee stability and continuity to the team as it grows in competitiveness. Alonso is part of the RDD (Renault Driver Development) program while Button has contract to Williams. Flavio Briatore said that this season they have been very lucky to have three of the best current F1 drivers in the team. Briatore added that unfortunately they can't keep all of them and a decision had to be taken and have no doubt Button has a brilliant future ahead of him in Formula One.
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Flavio Briatore is the MANAGER for both Trulli and Alonso. Connect the dots. Button is under contract to Williams and was on loan to Renault. Expendible.
Button is probably going to Jaguar, replacing Eddie Irvine. (British car/British driver).
Button is probably going to Jaguar, replacing Eddie Irvine. (British car/British driver).
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Button is going to BAR. BAR is replacing Panis with Button. I was hoping JV would have been picked up by Renault, but it appears that FB, the team manager for the next 3 yrs has made the decision to continue as a second hand development team. Although Trulli is talented, I don't know if I would put a lot of faith in Alonso. Other factors may also play in this decision, such as Renault marketing in both Italy and Spain, which are increasing the number of Renaults sold vs. Fiats (Italy) and Seats (Spain). All in all I do believe that Jarno is much more talented than Button, but I don't think Alonso is in the same caliber of Button.
