RENAULT DENY RALF DEAL

哈，Willii Webber早上才放出消息，下午就被Renault否認了。
來源：itv-F1
Last Updated: Tuesday, 09 March , 2004, 15:26

Ralf Schumacher's manager has claimed the German is on the verge of a move to Renault - only for the team to deny it.

Willi Weber said Ralf had agreed terms with the French-owned team's boss Flavio Briatore and would sign if last-ditch talks with Williams failed to produce the deal he wants.

Weber told German newspaper Bild: "We're in agreement with Briatore - a contract is purely a formality.

"In Bahrain, we will have a last meeting with Frank Williams. If we cannot agree Ralf will leave."

He added: "Ralf is not compelled to stay."

But Briatore issued an immediate denial of the story.

He said: “I saw Willi Weber in Melbourne and we certainly talked to each other – we are friends, so that is perfectly normal.

"However, at no time did we discuss, or have we discussed, a possible future for Ralf Schumacher in a Renault car."

Ralf has been in dispute with Williams for some time, with the German demanding more money than the team is willing to pay.

The idea of Schumacher moving to Renault is something of a shock, however. It had been thought his most likely destination was Toyota.

In addition, Renault have some of the best talents in F1 safely under contract - including Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber. The latter has been continuously linked with a move to Williams so it is not inconceivable that he could replace Schumacher at the British team.