• Hungarian Grand Prix

Alonso dismisses Red Bull link

ESPN Staff
July 28, 2013 « Grosjean hit with further penalty | 'I felt like a target' - Button »
Fernando Alonso has been linked with the vacant seat at Red Bull next season © Sutton Images
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Fernando Alonso says he is happy at Ferrari amid speculation he is considering a switch to Red Bull in 2014.

Alonso's manager held a meeting with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner in Hungary, prompting rumours that Alonso could be in the frame to replace Mark Webber at the end of the season. Having lost out to Sebastian Vettel in the championship over the last three seasons, Alonso was asked if he's committed to Ferrari and happy to remain even if the title continues to elude him.

"I'm very happy," Alonso said. "Of course we need to improve the car if we are going to have chances to win the world championship.

"Always with four weeks with no Formula One it's a very dangerous period for [the media] so hopefully we will have a quiet summer."

Reflecting on his race in Hungary - in which he finished a distant fifth - Alonso said his lack of race pace could be attributed to the updated Pirelli tyres.

"I think we need to look at the details. It's true that with degradation we have been historically good, but we saw on Friday's long runs that we were not very competitive here. We had some doubts, we changed some things today which did not improve the situation too much.

"We have been half-surprised, we need to improve the situation. With the 2013 tyres we had very good degradation similar to Lotus - or more similar to Lotus than the other cars - and with the 2012 tyres it seems we are much closer to the higher degradation cars than Lotus. So it's something we will need to improve."

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