<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>Renault have confirmed they are in talks with Kimi Raikkonen about him replacing Fernando Alonso in the championship winning team for the 2007 season.
Although rife speculation in recent weeks has placed Renault in the frame for the Finn's signature, the reigning champions have remained coy on the issue until now, with Renault F1 president Alain Dassas finally admitting that they are in the process of trying to secure the McLaren driver.
"It's no secret, Raikkonen is our priority for the 2007 season," Dassas told Gazzetta dello Sport. "We are talking with Raikkonen about a contract."
It had been thought that Raikkonen was in-line for a seat at Ferrari until recently, but with Michael Schumacher expected to extend his contract, it is believed Raikkonen has begun looking at other options.
Together with his tenure at McLaren-Mercedes seemingly at an end once they welcome Alonso in 2007, Renault is the only top level seat left in the sport. Indeed, Dassas is keen to have him in the squad to replace their 'superstar' Alonso and with Raikkonen being described as 'one of the greatest drivers', it seems he is an ideal candidate for his replacement.
Although a deal was rumoured to be forthcoming for Renault's home race in France, no such deal has been announced but could come about in the following weeks.
However, it now seems former front runner for the seat, Heikki Kovalainen, is set to remain in the test driving role for the moment or look for a drive elsewhere after Dassas claimed his lack of experience could pose a negative effect on the team's chances in 2007.
"To have a driver with no experience like [Kovalainen] would be risky. In F1 nowadays, you need quick, immediate results, and it could be a problem to obtain them with a debutant," he added.
Kovalainen has been linked with a drive at Red Bull in 2007 should Renault provide engines to the team. However, this move could be scuppered by Ferrari's claim that Red Bull must honour their contract through to next year.
http://www.crash.net/news_View~t~Renault--...1~id~134041.htm
Although rife speculation in recent weeks has placed Renault in the frame for the Finn's signature, the reigning champions have remained coy on the issue until now, with Renault F1 president Alain Dassas finally admitting that they are in the process of trying to secure the McLaren driver.
"It's no secret, Raikkonen is our priority for the 2007 season," Dassas told Gazzetta dello Sport. "We are talking with Raikkonen about a contract."
It had been thought that Raikkonen was in-line for a seat at Ferrari until recently, but with Michael Schumacher expected to extend his contract, it is believed Raikkonen has begun looking at other options.
Together with his tenure at McLaren-Mercedes seemingly at an end once they welcome Alonso in 2007, Renault is the only top level seat left in the sport. Indeed, Dassas is keen to have him in the squad to replace their 'superstar' Alonso and with Raikkonen being described as 'one of the greatest drivers', it seems he is an ideal candidate for his replacement.
Although a deal was rumoured to be forthcoming for Renault's home race in France, no such deal has been announced but could come about in the following weeks.
However, it now seems former front runner for the seat, Heikki Kovalainen, is set to remain in the test driving role for the moment or look for a drive elsewhere after Dassas claimed his lack of experience could pose a negative effect on the team's chances in 2007.
"To have a driver with no experience like [Kovalainen] would be risky. In F1 nowadays, you need quick, immediate results, and it could be a problem to obtain them with a debutant," he added.
Kovalainen has been linked with a drive at Red Bull in 2007 should Renault provide engines to the team. However, this move could be scuppered by Ferrari's claim that Red Bull must honour their contract through to next year.
http://www.crash.net/news_View~t~Renault--...1~id~134041.htm
