shonguiz

2nd driver: Piquet
3rd driver: Romain Grosjean.

bmer

From Autosport:

Renault confirm Alonso, Piquet for 2008

Monday, December 10th 2007, 13:17 GMT
By Pablo Elizalde



The Renault team have confirmed Fernando Alonso and Nelsinho Piquet as their racing drivers for the 2008 season.

Alonso, who announced his move on his website on Monday, returns to the French squad after one season at the McLaren team, which he left two years before the end of his contract after a turbulent season.

Alonso will have Piquet, a test driver for the team in 2007, as teammate next year, after Renault confirmed an all-new line-up for 2008.

"Fernando and Nelsinho will form one of the most exciting driver line up of 2008," said Renault's managing director Flavio Briatore.

"We are delighted to be welcoming Fernando back home to the team where he enjoyed his greatest success. His abilities as a driver and a team leader are well known, and we look forward to forging another strong partnership.

"What's more, he knows the team well and how we operate; he will feel comfortable straight away in this environment.

"Nelsinho is one of the most promising young talents in motorsport. After his success in GP2, he has spent a year learning the ropes as our test driver and getting to know the team ; he is now ready to step up to the next level."

Alonso, 26, won two titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006 and the Spaniard is now hoping for another successful chapter.

"I am delighted to be returning to Renault," said Alonso. "This is the team where I grew up as a driver in Formula One. Now it is time for us to begin a new chapter together.

"I am very excited about working with this great team once more, and confident that together we can move back to the front of the field. Renault had a difficult year in 2007, but I know that the team has real strength in depth. I am confident they can produce a fast and competitive car and be back at the top in 2008."

Piquet, son of three-time champion Nelson, will make his Grand Prix debut at the age of 22.

"First of all, I want to thank Flavio and Renault for putting their confidence in me for 2008," said Piquet. "It is a fantastic opportunity to make my Formula One debut with one of the top teams on the grid, and alongside one of the very best drivers in the sport.

"This drive is something I have been working towards since the end of 2006, and I am proud that my performances as test driver have earned me this position. I am looking forward to teaming up with Fernando, and learning from him. As a rookie, there is no better way to start your career than to have a double world champion as your reference point."

Frenchman Romain Grosjean, reigning 2007 F3 Euro Series champion, will be the team's test driver.

The announcement leaves Giancarlo Fisichella and Heikki Kovalainen currently without a drive for next year.

Tycoon

From F1-Live:

Alonso and Piquet in 2008




Next year, double World Champion Fernando Alonso will drive alongside Brazilian rookie Nelson Piquet Jr. They will be supported by Frenchman Romain Grosjean, reigning 2007 F3 Euroseries Champion and a product of Renault's driver development scheme, in the role of test driver.

"Fernando and Nelsinho will form one of the most exciting driver line up of 2008," commented Renault F1 Team Managing Director Flavio Briatore.

"We are delighted to be welcoming Fernando back home to the team where he enjoyed his greatest success. His abilities as a driver and a team leader are well known, and we look forward to forging another strong partnership. What's more, he knows the team well and how we operate; he will feel comfortable straight away in this environment."

"Nelsinho is one of the most promising young talents in motorsport. After his success in GP2, he has spent a year learning the ropes as our test driver and getting to know the team; he is now ready to step up to the next level," Briatore said.

ING Renault F1 Team President Bernard Rey commented: "The entire team has been working flat out over the past months to return to the front of the field, and a top-line driver line-up is essential to achieving our targets. Our recent technology investments, the return of Fernando Alonso to the team, and the promotion of Nelsinho Piquet, all signal our intent to return to winning ways next year.Renault is also delighted to welcome a talented, young Frenchman to the team as test driver."

Fernando Alonso rejoins the Renault F1 Team after spending the 2007 season at McLaren-Mercedes. Alonso drove for the Renault F1 Team between 2003 and 2006, during which time he scored 15 Grand Prix victories and won two World Championships, in 2005 and 2006. He will play a key role in the team's efforts to return to the front of the field in 2008.

Nelson Piquet Jr will complete the team's race driver line-up. The 22 year-old Brazilian spent 2007 as the Renault F1 Team's test and reserve driver, after finishing runner-up in the 2006 GP2 series championship. He will make his F1 debut at the 2008 Australian Grand Prix.

The team's 2008 challenger, the Renault R28, will run for the first time at a three-day teams test in Valencia, Spain from 22 – 24 January. The car will be officially launched at Renault's corporate communications headquarters in Paris, France on Thursday 31 January 2008.


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Centurion

So it's finally set. Good for Alonso, let's just hope that Renault has a good car for 2008 that's reliable. I bet he won't be beaten by his new teammate Piquet. It seem like Renault what a killer duo like Hamilton and Alonso were. Hekki is more or less a free agent now and will most likely be scooped up by Mclaren even though it is rumored that Pedro is set to jump into the driver seat nr2.

Remy Zero

i'm not surprised, and i saw this coming. i seriously think HK will be on his way to Mac now.

Speedster

About time he made his mind up, whenever talking about the silly season in my blog, i was having to constantly make reference to what he was doing etc., he was holding people up for ages. Back where he should have stayed i guess.

I feel sorry for Heikki Kovalainen though, he could be on his way out of F1, because realistically the McLaren seat is the only one left, but Santander the big sponsor want a Spanish driver otherwise they will pull their sponsorship i heard, which would point to Pedro de La Rosa getting the drive. Shame, i like Heikki.

Centurion

Alonso waited with making a decesion until the Mclaren vs Renault spy saga was over.

Heikki has potential and it's not entirely over for him. I suspect he will join Toyota if Mclaren doesn't want him.

Remy Zero

i think it'll be really stupid if Mac took PDLR over Kova. Kova, IMO, did a really decent job this year in a ill handling car, which bring me to the fact, what he can do in a proper car like Mac.

PDLR isn't impressive, IMO. a tester is a tester, while a racer is a racer. no disrespect to him, but i would rather take Kova over him anyday. Sponsors? like JT was quoted saying, he'd rather lose a sponsor than losing a good driver.

Centurion

Considering how sh1tty Mclaren's car was last year, Pedro did a fantastic job when he jumped in for Montoya. He's loyal, hungry and has a lot of potential yet to be seen. IMO he's maybe even better than Hekki.

shonguiz

If they want to make Hqmilton the number 1, then forget Kova, he left renault cause he didn't want to be alonso's dog.