Alonso admits no Ferrari drive in 2009
Despite the Italian team's president stopping by the Renault garage for a chat with the Spaniard at the recent Monza test, Luca di Montezemolo also made clear that Ferrari will head into next season with an unchanged driver lineup.
"It has always been known that their two drivers are under contract. It was never an option for next year," Alonso, 27, is quoted as saying by the Spanish newspaper Diario AS at Spa-Francorchamps.
He plays down his reported conversation with Montezemolo.
"I saw him for five seconds; he asked me how I was doing," Alonso explained. "Next door was Fisichella and he gave him a hug. He also saw Hamilton."
It is clear that Renault, BMW-Sauber, Honda and Toyota are holding off on finalizing their plans for 2009 while Alonso is still on the market.
Alonso said the fact that Ferrari is not an option for 2009 is not a problem for him.
"I am 27 and have enough time to get back to winning races and championships, whether with Ferrari or another team.
"When I won my two championships with Renault, Ferrari were behind me, so I am not afraid of the challenge."
In interview with the British broadcaster ITV in Belgium on Thursday, Alonso would not rule out driving for Ferrari in the future.
"I need to keep thinking not only for next year but also for the near future, so we will see," he said.
Alonso answered "I don't know" to whether he might be lining up a Ferrari drive for 2010.