Renault in no rush to announce driver line-up - Briatore

According to Flavio Briatore, the ING Renault F1 Team isn't in a rush to announce their driver line-up for the 2008 season. It has been rumoured for weeks that Fernando Alonso will return to Renault after a disaster year at McLaren.

Team Boss, Flavio Briatore, declared that the team is in no rush to announce their 2008 driver formation: "There is no rush to make an announcement at this stage. When we are ready and we have made our decision, we will announce it. But we are in a strong position with good options."

Although both Giancarlo Fisichella and Heikki Kovalainen have had a difficult season because of the lack of performance of the R27, Briatore remains full of grace for both drivers: "Giancarlo has done a very solid, very good job for us this year. His asset is his experience, and that was very important to us in the early races when the car was not performing well. Look at races like Monaco: he took everything from the package there. He knows what a title-winning car is like to drive, and he helped guide our development. I am very pleased with him. As for Heikki, it was a difficult start – but since the middle of the year, people have seen the talent we knew was there all along. As a rookie, it is difficult to shine if you are not in a top car, but for me he has been one of the revelations of the season. He is getting better with every race."

About the possibility of Alonso moving back to Renault, Flavio said: "There has been a lot of talk but Fernando has a contract with another team for 2008. At the moment, he is focused on the championship battle, trying to win a third consecutive title. I have said before that if he was free we would be happy to have him back at Renault."