| The two-times Formula 1 World Champion, the | | | | team-mate, the British Lewis Hamilton. |
| Spaniard Fernando Alonso and the Brazilian | | | | Alonso, a two-time world champion (2005 and |
| Nelsinho Piquet will be the two official Renault | | | | 2006) returns to the team with which he lived his |
| drivers for the 2008 season; replacing the Italian | | | | Formula One best seasons. He makes his final |
| Giancarlo Fisichella and the Finnish Heikki | | | | decision once the FIA decided not to sanction |
| Kovalainen; this has already been announced to | | | | Renault due to a non-clear espionage case |
| the AFP in Spain. Renault's spokesman did not | | | | involving the McLaren team. |
| refer to the contracts duration or gave any | | | | Alonso did not give an extend declaration about |
| details that could compromise them. | | | | the issue in question. "I am one of the 22 |
| In an interview with the French motor-racing | | | | privileged ones that can drive a single-seater each |
| official web page, Alonso stated ''I'm very happy | | | | year and I'm still even more fortunate to be able |
| by signing with Renault. Everyone knows is a | | | | to abandon a great team and enter another one. |
| great team and what they have achieved in the | | | | Many drivers have never been able to run in the |
| Formula One. In the 2005 and 2006 seasons the | | | | highest category''. |
| team won the world championship and I would like | | | | Alonso will drive next to Nelsinho Piquet, son of |
| to be part of that success''. | | | | the three-time World Champion Nélson |
| For a long time now, it has been announced on | | | | Piquet (1981, 1983, 1987), who was Renault's |
| the Spaniard's web page his return to Renault | | | | tester pilot last season. Renault's test driver |
| assuring his comeback ''to his origins''. | | | | position will be occupied by the French driver |
| Alonso affirmed Renault is a team ''that knows | | | | Romain Grosjean, Formula 3 Euroseries 2007 |
| what it takes to win.'' He also stated that ''the | | | | Champion. |
| decision to elect a team did not take more than | | | | Piquet made a written statement on his web |
| one week; my people as well as myself know | | | | page ''A fantastic opportunity to debut in Formula |
| what we wanted''. | | | | 1 was offered to me by one of the best |
| A few weeks ago, Alonso, 26-year-old abandoned | | | | motor-racing teams as well as next to one of the |
| the McLaren-Mercedes team after one season | | | | best drivers. It is something for which I have |
| marked by the constant troubles with the head | | | | worked a lot and I'm proud that my hard work |
| leaders, besides the Ferrari's espionage case and | | | | has been noticed allowing me to achieve this |
| the worst of all the very obvious rivalry with his | | | | position''. |