Honda would be interested in double Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso if he wants out of Renault and cannot move to Ferrari, team boss Ross Brawn said yesterday.

"We are fairly happy with our two drivers, we'll be interested to see what Fernando does," the former Ferrari technical director said at the British Grand Prix.

"He's a great driver and a world champion. If he chooses not to stay at Renault then I think every team would be interested in what he's going to do. But it's no more than that."

Honda has Brazilian Rubens Barrichello and Briton Jenson Button as its drivers this season but neither has a cast-iron contract for 2009, although Button at least is expected to stay.

Alonso, who replaced Button at Renault in 2003, won his titles with the French team in 2005 and 2006 and returned this year after a difficult and fractious season at McLaren. With Renault struggling and without a win since 2006, Alonso's future has been under close scrutiny with the 26-year-old Spaniard eager to get back into a winning car.

"The two top teams consistently over the last five years have been Ferrari and latterly McLaren," said Brawn.

"I don't suppose he's got an invitation to go back to McLaren so if he wants a top team berth then I'm sure he's going to be looking very hard at Ferrari.

"I'm not completely clear on the situation at Ferrari. Felipe (Massa) has got a contract until the end of 2010 and he's doing a very good job so I'd see no reason to change that," continued the Briton.

"And if Kimi (Raikkonen) doesn't wake up one morning and decide to stop, then that (pairing) doesn't look like its going to stop in the short term.

"So I guess that might develop into a situation (for Alonso) but its far too early to say."

Raikkonen said last month however that he had yet to decide what to do when his Ferrari contract expires at the end of 2009.

"I guess he (Alonso) has got some thinking to do about what he wants to do," said Brawn. "If he doesn't get in to Ferrari, he's got to pick a horse and back it for the next few years."

Honda hopes to be far more competitive in 2009 when the regulations change.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily July 4, 2008)