Renault and Mutua Madrilena united around Alonso

The Spanish insurance company Mutua Madrilena will become a new sponsor of Renault in 2008.

And it’s no coincidence that the double world champion Fernando Alonso is back with the French team.

Indeed, Mutua Madrileña entered Formula 1 with Renault at the beginning of 2005, then chose to follow the Spaniard to McLaren at the end of 2006.

Alonso, who left the British team due to a disagreement, has joined his family at heart in recent days. However, in a statement from last week, the insurance company insisted that its decision to terminate the contract with McLaren had no connection to the Spanish driver’s departure from the team.

Some Spanish sources now indicate that the company has signed a new contract to sponsor the Renault R28.

Spain will host, for the first time in 2008, two F1 events in the same year: the usual Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, and for the first time in the port city of Valencia, where the European Grand Prix will be held at the end of August.

The former contract between Mutua Madrilena and McLaren-Mercedes was estimated at 5 million dollars per season, and in 2007 the branding was present on the front wing of the MP4-22, on the drivers’ sleeves, and on the helmets.