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ShareLONDON: Renault's Fernando Alonso won the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix by 1.246 seconds from Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, after the German had taken his first pole since the Hungarian GP last season.
Both Schumacher and Ferrari claimed to be pleased with the result and, if German media reports are to be believed, the proof of the pudding would be in the 7-time world champion signing an extension of two years with the Italian team. According to the German newspaper Bild, Schumacher may have already put pen to paper on a new $91.2 million deal to be with Ferrari until the end of 2008. His current contract with the team is set to expire at the end of this season.
At 37, Schumacher is the oldest driver in the F1 series this year. Ahead of this season, rumours had been rife about the German's plans post 2007. There was even talk of him launching Team Schumacher. He, however, had been firm that he would not make up his mind about his future until sometime this summer.
Schumacher's manager, Willi Weber, told Bild that they will not be making any statements about his future until this summer. However, he added that "positive results" certainly wouldn't hurt.Meanwhile, German reports also indicate that Kimi Raikkonen has agreed to join Ferrari next season as well. Reliability issues at McLaren are expected to be the main factor behind whether or not he elects to stay.
'Won't play second fiddle'
Kimi Raikkonen has fended off fresh speculation that his switch to Ferrari in 2007 is now signed and sealed. Germany's Bild newspaper reported this week that the presently McLaren Mercedes driver will earn $150 million over the next five years at Maranello. Raikkonen, however, denied the latest gossip, which now includes reports that his managerial team may have visited the Toyota HQ in Cologne."I have not signed a new contract with anybody," Raikkonen said, According to the German Sport1.de, Raikkonen might have baulked at news that Schumacher -- with a definite 'number one' clause in his existing Ferrari contract -- is eyeing a new deal."I will not play second fiddle to anyone," Raikkonen said.
