Former World Champion Mario Andretti has suggested that Fernando Alonso could be tempted to leave Ferrari, as the Italian marque continues to struggle in its quest for a first championship crown since 2008.
Alonso, contesting his fifth season at Ferrari, struggled to a ninth place finish in Bahrain, just ahead of new team-mate Kimi Räikkönen, who remains the outfit’s most recent individual title winner with his 2007 triumph.
“Ferrari cannot be fighting for the final point. It’s not good for Ferrari and it’s not good for Formula 1,” Andretti, who claimed his world title with Lotus in 1978, explained during an exclusive interview with GPUpdate.net.
“For some reason or another Ferrari needs to be in the battle. Mercedes is an iconic brand, no question, but when it comes to motor racing and Formula 1 especially Ferrari is the yardstick somewhat. They need to be up front. But they know it. You can tell that everyone is frustrated, beginning with Luca di Montezemolo. I think the drivers are using every bit of restraint not to express themselves. You can’t really criticise, as we all know…