Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has dismissed rumours that Fernando Alonso is set to join the team next season.
Mateschitz says one-year deal "out of the question" for Red Bull
Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has dismissed rumours that Fernando Alonso is set to join the team next season.
According to recent reports, the two-time world champion, who quit McLaren-Mercedes after a fraught 2007 season, has been talking to Red Bull about the possibility of joining in 2008.
These were backed up by Franz Tost, team principal of Red Bull-backed outfit Toro Rosso, who said: "As far as I know, there are talks between Red Bull and Alonso."
This led to claims that Alonso's signing was imminent as, unlike Renault - also linked to a driver with whom they won back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006 - Red Bull were willing to offer him a one-year contract, which is what the Spaniard is believed to be after.
But Mateschitz has denied that his team are about to sign Alonso, saying Red Bull are happy with the drivers - David Coulthard and Mark Webber - they have on their books for next season.
However, the Austrian nevertheless remained keen to have a driver with Alonso's record racing for his team in the future.
Speculation
"If there is speculation in the Italian media that Alonso is about to sign for Red Bull, I can only say - I know nothing about that," said Mateschitz told Swiss publication
Motorsport Aktuell.
"Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso have four drivers under contract.
"From what I hear, Alonso is speaking to other teams about a one-year only deal. Such a deal is out of question for us.
"We would prefer to wait a year and prove that we can build a car which is capable of attracting one of the best grand prix drivers for 2009."
