> Red Bull boss rules out Alonso deal

Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has moved to quell speculation that his team is chasing Fernando Alonso's services for 2008.

Following David Coulthard's assertion earlier this week that he is 100% certain to race for RBR next year, the Austrian billionaire himself ruled out the possibility of the double world champion joining the Red Bull stable in an interview with respected Swiss racing weekly Motorsport Aktuell.

"Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso have four drivers under contract," he said.

"From what I hear, Alonso is speaking to other teams about a one-year only deal. Such a deal is out of question for us.

"We would prefer to wait a year and prove that we can build a car which is capable of attracting one of the best Grand Prix drivers for 2009."

Alonso is out of contract after leaving McLaren by mutual consent following a catastrophic break down in relations and has subsequently been linked to Renault and Toyota, as well as Red Bull.

In his ITV column, Coulthard questioned the logic of the 26-year-old switching to RBR next year commenting: "I don't get the impression, based on Alonso's behaviour at McLaren, that he is happy to get variable results whilst knuckling down and developing the car into a winner."

Mateschitz admitted however that he expected his team to be in a position to bargain strongly for Alonso in 2009 if the 26-year-old secures a one-year deal elsewhere

"Of all teams which Alonso would have to chose, we for sure would be an alternative with big potential," said Mateschitz.

"We are looking for a two-year deal with an option for a third. We are looking for a common period of solid build-up."

Source: itv-f1