Kimi Raikkonen's Formula One options have dwindled down to two.
Renault, who had been rumored to be in talks with the Finn, have confirmed that countryman Heikki Kovalainen will partner Giancarlo Fisichella in 2007.
"I am thrilled to get the opportunity to race with a world champion team like Renault," said Kovalainen. "I have been a member of the Renault Driver Development programme since 2002, when I had the distant ambition of one day becoming an F1 driver.
"It is a fantastic feeling to have finally achieved that. My two seasons testing for the team, as well as my time in GP2, have allowed me to build my technical knowledge and to understand what it takes to win in Formula One. I have also had the opportunity to show the team what I can do, and it is a great motivation to know that they believe in me.
Kovalainen had been the team's test and reserve driver this year. Those duties will now be taken up by Brazilian's Ricardo Zonta and Nelson Piquet Jr.
Zonta joins the French team after four seasons with Toyota as their primary test driver. Piquet is the son of former three time world champion Nelson Piquet. He has spent the past two seasons competing in the GP2 series.
Renault also confirmed that Flavio Briatore will be back to lead the squad at least for another two years.
"I am delighted to continue to lead Renault's Formula One challenge," said Briatore. "I wanted to sign for two years because had it been 12 months, we would have been going through the same questions about my future in six months' time."
"It is now important for the Renault F1 Team to begin a fresh cycle of development from 2007, with a reinvigorated driver line-up and several significant new commercial partners. This is the key to performing at the top level in the medium and long term."
Renault's decision leaves only Ferrari and McLaren as the top teams who have yet to finalize their 2007 driver lineup.
Ferrari are set to unveil their lineup this weekend at Monza and with Renault out of the picture, it's widely anticipated that Raikkonen will join the Scuderia next season. Whether or not he will line up alongside Michael Schumacher is still a hot topic of debate.
According to the German publication Bild, Schumacher will announce his retirement following Sunday's race. The newspaper did not give any source for its information while Schumacher's manager and spokesperson refused to comment on the report.
Kimi Raikkonen's Formula One options have dwindled down to two.
Renault, who had been rumored to be in talks with the Finn, have confirmed that countryman Heikki Kovalainen will partner Giancarlo Fisichella in 2007.
"I am thrilled to get the opportunity to race with a world champion team like Renault," said Kovalainen. "I have been a member of the Renault Driver Development programme since 2002, when I had the distant ambition of one day becoming an F1 driver.
"It is a fantastic feeling to have finally achieved that. My two seasons testing for the team, as well as my time in GP2, have allowed me to build my technical knowledge and to understand what it takes to win in Formula One. I have also had the opportunity to show the team what I can do, and it is a great motivation to know that they believe in me.
Kovalainen had been the team's test and reserve driver this year. Those duties will now be taken up by Brazilian's Ricardo Zonta and Nelson Piquet Jr.
Zonta joins the French team after four seasons with Toyota as their primary test driver. Piquet is the son of former three time world champion Nelson Piquet. He has spent the past two seasons competing in the GP2 series.
Renault also confirmed that Flavio Briatore will be back to lead the squad at least for another two years.
"I am delighted to continue to lead Renault's Formula One challenge," said Briatore. "I wanted to sign for two years because had it been 12 months, we would have been going through the same questions about my future in six months' time."
"It is now important for the Renault F1 Team to begin a fresh cycle of development from 2007, with a reinvigorated driver line-up and several significant new commercial partners. This is the key to performing at the top level in the medium and long term."
Renault's decision leaves only Ferrari and McLaren as the top teams who have yet to finalize their 2007 driver lineup.
Ferrari are set to unveil their lineup this weekend at Monza and with Renault out of the picture, it's widely anticipated that Raikkonen will join the Scuderia next season. Whether or not he will line up alongside Michael Schumacher is still a hot topic of debate.
According to the German publication Bild, Schumacher will announce his retirement following Sunday's race. The newspaper did not give any source for its information while Schumacher's manager and spokesperson refused to comment on the report.
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