Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has revealed that the Milton Keynes-based squad made no effort𓄧 to secure Fernando Alonso's services for 2008 because the former double world champion 'was free for a year only'.

The energy drinks company founder's admission only serves to fuel speculation that Alonso has ♛already agreed terms to race for Ferrari in 2009, most likely in place of Felipe Massa. Following his very public fall-out with McLaren-Mercedes, the Spaniard has returned to Renault for the 2008 campaign, the team with which he claimed both his title successes in 2005 and 2006 - though Mateschitz claims RBR was his preferred choice.

Whilst Alonso has denied there is an 'escape clause' in his two-year contract shoul🌊d results not match up to his expectations - a scenario that has thus far irrefutably been the case - the 26-year-old has expressed increasing disquiet in recent weeks over the R28's poor performance and lack of pace.

"Alonso told a Spanish newspaper that Red Bull would be his favourite option," Austrian billionaire Mateschitz said in an interview with El Mundo. "His situation was complicated, tho𝔉ugh, beꦯcause he was free for a year only.

"In such a short time we would not have been🌊 able to demonstrate our ability, and that would have meant a serious setback for us.

"I am one of those who thinks that Alonso is🌺 one of the best drivers, but if we could not deliver the car he needed, the decision would have been wrong.

"Imagine - a former champion suffering in one of our cars this year... Choosing to go with [Flavio] B🦩riatore [and Renault] was the best move."