Apr.16 (GMM) 2008 could become a two-team battle to capture the services next year of former double world champion Fernando Alonso.

The Spaniard signed a two-year contract to return to Renault this season, but - despite the hints and denials - it is strongly believed that 26-year-old Alonso can leave the French team at the end of 2008 if his car is not competitive.

Renault's disappointing form so far this year has already triggered several suggestions from Alonso that his employer for 2009 is not fixed, and his favoured alternative seems to be Ferrari.

The Italian team, however, has ongoing contracts with both Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa, causing a Spanish newspaper to react with surprise to the latest apparent development from Italy.

Diario AS reports that Ferrari's high profile press officer Luca Colajanni met for a media lunch with Italian journalists this week.

Asked about Alonso's famous personality, he is quoted as saying: "Fernando is an intelligent and professional driver who always knows what he wants to say."

Alonso's current boss, on the other hand, apparently does not intend to farewell his star driver after only one more year together.

"If we do not return to being a winning team, Fernando will leave no earlier than 2010," Flavio Briatore is quoted as saying by the Swiss publication Blick.