In spite of reports that the Spanish double champion is close to signing a deal with Renault, Red Bull continues to chase his services. Alonso's manager, Luis Garcia Abad, is reported to have met with Dietrich Mateschitz and Gerhard Berger in Madrid yesterday.
The inclusion of Berger raises the interesting possibility of a driver shuffle not previously imagined by the rumor machine: a move for Coulthard to Toro Rosso to make way for Alonso in the Red Bull car. In this scenario, it is suggested that Sebastien Bourdais would be asked to endure one more year of Champ Cars and, presumably, bring his tally of championships to five.
As unlikely as this sounds, it would agree with the STR bosses' complete disregard for driver contracts in their pursuit of success. One would hardly blame Bourdais for telling them where they could shove their second-rate drive, if the rumor is correct. But, ironically, the idea that Coulthard should drive in his place is actually just what STR need - a driver with experience who can get to grips with the car and tell the team what is wrong with it.
And the prospect of Alonso driving for Red Bull is also very interesting. Even without the inclusion of Ross Brawn in the team, a possibility that gains credibility from the lack of news from Maranello, Red Bull have assembled an impressive team. Adrian Newey's designs should be about ready to break through to the big time in 2008, the development of his first Red Bull this year having pointed the way to go, and the team are a good outside bet for winning races soon.
Which is not bad for a non-manufacturer team these days. We tend to forget that it is only the huge amount of money available to RBR that somehow separates them from the traditional privateer constructor like Williams. They inhabit a sort of no-mans-land in between the independents and the manufacturers, most closely resembling the Benetton team of former years. And that reminds us that Benetton managed to win an occasional championship once they had found a driver capable of galvanizing the team; is it possible that Alonso could do the same for Red Bull?
What really astounds me about Red Bull, however, is the apparently inexhaustible supply of money invested by that man, Dietrich Mateschitz. I ask myself how it is possible that the sales of an energy drink can support such massive expenditure. Do you drink Red Bull? I certainly don't and I don't know anyone who does, either. Yet someone must be buying the stuff, considering the profits generated from its sales.
It's all thanks to Mateschitz's amazing marketing skills, apparently. And, if he's that good, maybe he can sell the Red Bull idea to Alonso and his manager. Now that would be really interesting - Alonso in a Red Bull and teamed with Mark Webber. I can see another little tiff between team mates developing in that case...
The inclusion of Berger raises the interesting possibility of a driver shuffle not previously imagined by the rumor machine: a move for Coulthard to Toro Rosso to make way for Alonso in the Red Bull car. In this scenario, it is suggested that Sebastien Bourdais would be asked to endure one more year of Champ Cars and, presumably, bring his tally of championships to five.
As unlikely as this sounds, it would agree with the STR bosses' complete disregard for driver contracts in their pursuit of success. One would hardly blame Bourdais for telling them where they could shove their second-rate drive, if the rumor is correct. But, ironically, the idea that Coulthard should drive in his place is actually just what STR need - a driver with experience who can get to grips with the car and tell the team what is wrong with it.
And the prospect of Alonso driving for Red Bull is also very interesting. Even without the inclusion of Ross Brawn in the team, a possibility that gains credibility from the lack of news from Maranello, Red Bull have assembled an impressive team. Adrian Newey's designs should be about ready to break through to the big time in 2008, the development of his first Red Bull this year having pointed the way to go, and the team are a good outside bet for winning races soon.
Which is not bad for a non-manufacturer team these days. We tend to forget that it is only the huge amount of money available to RBR that somehow separates them from the traditional privateer constructor like Williams. They inhabit a sort of no-mans-land in between the independents and the manufacturers, most closely resembling the Benetton team of former years. And that reminds us that Benetton managed to win an occasional championship once they had found a driver capable of galvanizing the team; is it possible that Alonso could do the same for Red Bull?
What really astounds me about Red Bull, however, is the apparently inexhaustible supply of money invested by that man, Dietrich Mateschitz. I ask myself how it is possible that the sales of an energy drink can support such massive expenditure. Do you drink Red Bull? I certainly don't and I don't know anyone who does, either. Yet someone must be buying the stuff, considering the profits generated from its sales.
It's all thanks to Mateschitz's amazing marketing skills, apparently. And, if he's that good, maybe he can sell the Red Bull idea to Alonso and his manager. Now that would be really interesting - Alonso in a Red Bull and teamed with Mark Webber. I can see another little tiff between team mates developing in that case...