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Renault confirmed that the 2005 GP2 Series Runner Up Heikki Kovalainen will be their third driver in 2006.

The highly regarded Kovalainen is expected to secure a full time drive in Formula 1 in 2007 possibly replacing Giancarlo Fisichella at Renault.

Renault F1 team boos Flavio Briatore said:

We are delighted to welcome Heikki to the team as our third driver for 2006. He has demonstrated that he is a talented, aggressive driver in the GP2 Series, and he has impressed our engineers during his tests with the team. The test driver?s role will be crucial during 2006 as we develop our V8 engine through the season to defend the world championship. I am confident Heikki will make a valuable contribution to our success.

Heikki Kovalainen said:

I am delighted to have been offered this opportunity by Renault. I have already done some testing for the team, but I still have a lot to learn. This role will allow me to understand more about the team and how Formula 1 works while developing my driving and technical skills at this level. It is a privilege to be invited to join a championship-winning team, and I am determined to help Renault retain its world titles.

Kovalainen also won the Champion of Champions individual event last year and is taking part in this year's event as well.

Kovalainen is another driver managed by Flavio Briatore.

Full Renault F1 Statement

Ed, how many drivers beside Kovalainen does Briatore manage?

mlittle wrote:Ed, how many drivers beside Kovalainen does Briatore manage?

Of the F1 drivers, Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber.

He used to managed Jarno Trulli as well but I don't think he manages him any longer.

He most likely manages other drivers in the lower Formulaes as well!

Alonso The Cute and Kovalainen The New Flying Finn

The greatest partnership since Senna/Prost I'd say!!

Thanks Flavio

Alonso is good, but a senna/prost pairing would have to be Raikkonen and Kovalainen

Ice Maiden

To even mention Alonso in the same sentence as Senna is blasphemy JV

ice_maiden wrote:Alonso is good, but a senna/prost pairing would have to be Raikkonen and Kovalainen

ice_maiden

Alonso has beaten Raikkonen already. He needs a new challenge

Julian Mayo wrote: Ice Maiden

To even mention Alonso in the same sentence as Senna is blasphemy JV

It's no fun Julian just picking on me all the time

Read what I said:

The greatest partnership since Senna/Prost I'd say!!

Even though some experts who worked with both Senna and Alonso are drawing parallels, I am not comparing. I said SINCE. (in CAPS and bold so you can see it clearly.

To me, I don't think we have seen a great driver pairing since Senna/Prost. We thought Raikkonen/Montoya would be great but it turned out that Raikkonen is a car breaker and Montoya attracts other drivers to run into him .

Fisichella also proved that Alonso is just so much better than the rest so I hope Kovalainen proves a great challenge to him

sorry

JayVee wrote:

Julian Mayo wrote: Ice Maiden

To even mention Alonso in the same sentence as Senna is blasphemy JV

It's no fun Julian just picking on me all the time

Its not that I want to JV.!
Its more that no-one else makes contentious statements that I disagree with
Would a dozen yellow roses and a bottle of Moet go some way to mending fences ?

But that wasn't a contentious statement.

A team pairing of a World Champ and a rising star could easily be one of the greatest pairings!

Thanks for the offer anyway. I am happy now

aaah, well there you go. I would have happily accepted, and probably would have agreed with COULD

Now where do I send the peacemakers.?

Julian Mayo wrote:aaah, well there you go. I would have happily accepted, and probably would have agreed with COULD

Now where do I send the peacemakers.?

yeah right!!

send the peacemakers to the Lounge

The roses would wilt as soon as they entered