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F1: Future Remains Uncertain for Kovalainen
Written by: RACER Staff   http://www.racer.com
11/15/2007 - 07:00 PM
Barcelona, Spain
 
Kovalainen: still on stand by mode. (LAT Photo) » More Photos

Despite a strong rookie season which saw him take one podium and have the better of more experienced teammate Giancarlo Fisichella, Heikki Kovalainen's future with Renault remains in jeopardy as the Finn could find himself rideless with the French squad if, as expectede, Fernando Alonso does indeed return to the team after departing from McLaren.

While Fisichella is all but officially out at the team, the other seat is expected to go to Nelson Piquet Jr., who is believed to have been signed back in the summer originally to partner Kovalainen himself, before Alonso and McLaren went on to irreconcilably ways.

"I am not confirmed [for '08]," the Finn admitted to autosport.com. "I do not have contracts with anyone, and I have different options. I think Renault potentially is a strong team. I hope I can stay but we will see as there are other options which are interesting. You just don't know who is going to be strong next year. It could be anyone, that is why it takes a bit of time.

"The most important thing for me is to do a better start than this year, wherever I am, prepare better physically and mentally to get stronger at the beginning of the year. Then the target is to
be strong enough. If the car is strong enough I want to win races and to be champion as well, but it is better not to talk about that too much. I want to be able to fight for the championship and I would like to be ready this winter.

"If I was a Ferrari driver or McLaren driver, then I would expect to fight for the championship but at the moment I am not with anyone, and it is not realistic to talk about winning the championship now. I need to see first where we are as we cannot see the championship situation. It is important for me to start better."

The problem for Kovalainen is that his only realistic option in case he's shut out at Renault would be going to McLaren itself, partnering Lewis Hamilton – a scenario that would demand an unlikely mutual cooperation between McLaren boss Ron Dennis and Renault principal Flavio Briatore (who also manages Kovalainen's career), widely known to be bitter rivals.



What will its massive penalty mean to the McLaren team next year? Find out in our December issue, on sale now.