Imola, (Italy): Renault may look to within for a replacement when Fernando Alonso leaves after this season.
''We practically already have our team. We have (Giancarlo) Fisichella and we have a young driver that has done very well in testing,'' Renault managing director Flavio Briatore said Friday, referring to third driver Heikki Kovalainen.
Fisichella won the Malaysian GP last month and is tied for second in the drivers' standings.
The 24-year-old Kovalainen was runner-up last year in GP2, a feeder series for Formula One. At testing in Barcelona last week, the Finn's time of 1 minute, 13.928 seconds made him the only driver in four days to break 74 seconds.
After becoming the youngest champion in F1 history last season, Alonso announced in December he was moving to rival McLaren in 2007.
Briatore dismissed talk that he could be reunited with Michael Schumacher when the German's contract with Ferrari expires at the end of this season.
''Schumi is an excellent driver but that would be like when you divorce your wife and then a few years later you get back together and discover she's older and not as attractive,'' Briatore said.
Briatore and Schumacher won two titles together at Benetton in 1994 and 1995.
Briatore's contract is also up at the end of this year. On Thursday, Renault team president Alain Dassas said that keeping him is a priority.
''I think there are the right conditions for an extension,'' Briatore said.
Comments
0 comment