Ferrari Hit Back at Whitmarsh, Deny Alonso Move

Ferrari today claimed there is no such thing as Fernando Alonso moving to Maranello next season, hitting back at Martin Whitmarsh's comments earlier today. The McLaren-Mercedes team principal has stated, prior to the first practice session of the Valencia weekend on Friday, that Alonso's move to Ferrari next year will open up the drivers' market for the 2010 Formula One Championship.

“We all know that Fernando Alonso's move to Ferrari will have a ripple effect on other teams. It opens up the driver market. We are not in talks with any other drivers at the moment, but are obliged to have the most competitive cars and drivers that we can,” was Whitmarsh's prediction for BBC Five Live.

However, in an effort to cool things down in their squad, Ferrari quickly dismissed such rumors, insisting that they already have a stable lineup for the upcoming season. Whitmarsh's comments came only weeks away from several rumors that appeared in the media Europe-wide, regarding Kimi Raikkonen's potential switch to the WRC next year.

“He can say what he wants, there is no Fernando/Ferrari move. Things can happen and not happen. But you cannot talk about any Fernando/Ferrari move. We have two drivers with a contract until the end of 2010. We are not under pressure to change anything,” a Ferrari spokesman was quoted as saying to the same BBC after P2.

In the meantime, Ferrari's Luca Badoer is still struggling to get himself up to speed in the practice sessions of the European Grand Prix, as he is still some two and a half seconds off pace to the top of the timing charts. In addition, during the P2 on Friday, he was handed two speeding tickets by the FIA for speeding at the pit lane.