Alonso keen to stay with Trulli

Recent speculation has linked driver Ralf Schumacher with the team, although experienced observers consider that this is nothing more than Schumacher's management attempting to up the ante in the inevitable contract negotiations that will take place with the BMW Williams team.

Mark Webber has been touted as a potential Williams driver in 2005, but Webber's movements are significantly influenced by Flavio Briatore and it is debatable whether Sir Frank and the flamboyant Italian would strike a deal. Webber in a Renault is another option but leading figures in F1 driver management believe that is an unlikely scenario.

One of them told Autosport.com: "When, like Flavio, you have two geese laying golden eggs, Alonso and Webber, what is the point of putting them beside each other and slaughtering one of them?"



He added: "I also understand that Renault is keen on grooming [Renault test driver] Franck Montagny for a race seat next year. What's more likely is that Flavio will wait for Michael Schumacher to hang up his helmet and then sell Alonso to Ferrari before he moves Webber over."

Schumacher Jr, for his part, would not comment on the Renault rumours: "All I can say is that at the moment I am talking to BMW-Williams. That's where I would like to stay and we are still talking about it."

If Briatore did sign Schumacher, and he is no stranger to dealing with Willi Weber, and Montagny does not get a Renault race seat, then Williams might just pick up Webber and a cut price Jarno Trulli for '05.