Rumor

Reporter senses conspiracy after Alonso exit

Oct.10 (GMM) A Spanish newspaper reporter has concocted a conspiracy theory in the days since Fernando Alonso's first-lap retirement at Suzuka last weekend.

Diario AS Correspondent Manuel Franco reminds his readers that, at Spa, it was Lotus' Romain Grosjean who triggered the chaos that ended former runaway championship leader Alonso's race.

Fernando Alonso, Scuderia Ferrari

Photo by: xpb.cc

Then in Japan, it was the sister Lotus, driven by Kimi Raikkonen, who made contact with the Ferrari.

"There are suspicious ones in the paddock," Franco insisted.

Perhaps he is referring to the fact that it was Alonso who pushed Raikkonen out of Ferrari - and, indeed, F1 - at the end of 2009.

Or maybe there is an Enstone factor at play, like when Renault's Vitaly Petrov blocked Alonso in Abu Dhabi, ultimately costing the Spaniard the 2010 title.

Renault, remember, is now Lotus, and they both shared an engine supplier with Ferrari's main championship rival, Red Bull.

"This is F1," Franco, defending the possible conspiracy, concluded.

Referring to the Raikkonen contact at Suzuka, however, Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali does not smell a rat.

"It was a normal racing accident, as I am sure that Kimi meant no harm," the Italian is quoted as saying by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.