Aug.26 (GMM) The only missing element to the Santander/Ferrari sponsorship deal beginning in 2010 is an official press announcement.
It is an open secret in the F1 paddock that the Spanish bank will switch from McLaren at the end of the year, presumably to team up with Fernando Alonso at Ferrari.Asked about the rumours, Santander's executive vice president for communications and corporate marketing Juan Manuel Cendoya told AS newspaper: "The world's best bank, the world's best team, the world's best driver -- without doubt that is a dream combination for any sponsor."However, it has been whispered in recent days that McLaren is trying everything to retain Santander; including - according to El Mundo newspaper - by asking the bank if wooing Alonso back to the Mercedes powered team would change its mind.The German newspaper TZ said contact has been made by officials of the Woking based team to Alonso's manager Luis Garcia Abad."At no time have I spoken with Fernando Alonso about contracts," Mercedes' Norbert Haug said in a teleconference for German media this week."We talk from time to time and I send him a SMS if he drives a good race. But never (do we talk) about contracts," he insisted.
