Scuderia, is that link to TotalF1 password protected or something? I get 'Not Acceptable' which sort of indicates that I haven't got the correct permissions to view the content.
Could you copy and paste the text please.

ahh righ, sorry Marathon
Here it is:

Heikki Kovalainen has emerged as a potentially central figure in the short term future of reigning world champion Fernando Alonso.

The Finnish rookie's Renault team boss Flavio Briatore revealed this week that he has made a solid offer to reunite the French outfit with Alonso, its recent back to back title winner.

"I've said to Fernando that the moment he is free from McLaren, we would like to have him back," the Italian told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

But while many believe that Giancarlo Fisichella would be the obvious choice to make room for the Spaniard next year, Renault has not yet confirmed either of its current drivers for the 2008 season.

It has sparked speculation, including in the German magazine Sport Bild, that Fisichella will actually stay put to once again be Alonso's teammate - particularly as Briatore indicated that "the days are gone when you could have two strong drivers in the same team".

Senior Renault engineer Alan Permane is the latest to gush over the recent quality of Kovalainen's driving, saying in an interview that the 25-year-old is "going from strength to strength at the moment".

Offering the increasingly impressive Kovalainen to McLaren, therefore, could be a key aspect in Briatore's attempt to persuade Ron Dennis to release Alonso.

Perhaps higher on Dennis' wish list to replace Alonso, however, is Nico Rosberg, who is under contract to Williams but, crucially, has not yet been formally confirmed by the Grove based team for next year.

The 22-year-old German told Sport Bild this week: "I do not have an influence on things that lie outside of my job as a racing driver."

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Thanks Scuderia.
Hmmm Interesting. Renault are talking up the worth of Heikki to get the maximum benefit from the Alonso exchange with McLaren, and Nico is waiting in the wings in case the Renault/McLaren deal goes bad.

No probs mate.
Yep its a good little plan Renault have, like you said they are bigging Heikki up and up in hope that Ron will buy it (theres nothing to buy because he's a great driver) and again im sure Ron is already impressed with his performances and he is a big fan of Finnish drivers too.
This deal seems well and truley on now and remember that Flavio mentioned the point that a Team cant have two strong drivers now days looks like Fisico might have got his wish.
I also read though somewhere that Frank Williams is definatley not going to part with Nico:
Ron Dennis is interested in Nico Rosberg, but the Williams driver is firmly cemented in his team until the end of 2008. Frank Williams still states that he will not give Nico up under any circumstances, in fact he is struggling to find a good replacement for Wurz, so how would he be able to fill two cockpits.
"If I sell Nico, I sell Williams," he says.

So maybe we can rule Nico out of the picture now!

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Good!

I think Heikki in a McLaren and Fernando back with his second-rate team mate in a "happy" team can only be good for F1.

Had all the scandal this year happened in a year that wasn't so exciting I think F1 might have been finished... as it is, there is so much interest that I think it will survive it unscathed... but next year we don't need it again...

Sean

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Supporting McLaren and Force India in F1 and Ralf Schumacher in DTM

Go Nico I say, a fantastic driver. Ferrari are so stupid, why not try and bid for Rosberg too?!!!!!!!!!!!

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Well as im sure you heard during the race, it has been confirmed that Alexander Wurz will be retiring from racing (which im most certain he will be back as a test driver and possibly a higher position within the technical team) But this leaves open the speculation for the 2nd driver for next year?
I personally can see it being a 3 way shootout between Piquet / Glock / Liuzzi (after a great showing today)

Taken From Autosport:
Alex Wurz has decided to retire from Formula One racing at the end of this season, autosport.com can reveal.

The Austrian made his decision after his podium finish at the Canadian Grand Prix, and autosport.com understands he even considered pulling out immediately and going out on a high note. But he committed himself to completing the season out of respect for the Williams team.

Speculation surrounding the 33-year-old's future had been rife for some time, however sources suggest that Wurz had been advised by Williams he was one of a small number of drivers on the shortlist for a race seat next year.

Other names thought to be under consideration include Adrian Sutil, Nelson Piquet Jr and test driver Kazuki Nakajima, the latter having been described as "Formula One material" by Frank Williams during a press conference earlier this weekend.

While Wurz will not race in F1 after Brazil, it is believed that Williams is keen to retain his services as a test driver.

Wurz told autosport.com that he was unwilling to comment for legal reasons but did not deny any of the above.

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Now the German Newspaper Bild has got Vettel's name against the McLaren seat.
Norbert Haug - "No discussions have taken place".

Elsewhere it is being reported that Alonso's entourage watched the Chinese GP from the Renault motorhome.........

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Speed is life

Alonso should go to Nascar, he can pretend Montoya is Hamilton - bang!

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Looks like the Glock to Toyota maybe soon finalised

Taken from DailyF1:
Timo Glock will shortly sign a contract to become Jarno Trulli's Toyota teammate for 2008, according to reports.

The newly crowned GP2 champion has been holding off from penning a new deal to stay as BMW-Sauber's primary test driver while he negotiated with up to three teams for a race seat.

With Toyota's apparently $150m three-year bid to secure Fernando Alonso now almost certainly failed, the Japanese giant has instead settled on signing the promising 25-year-old German rookie.

The German newspaper Bild claims that Glock will actually put pen to paper on the deal after the Brazilian grand prix next week.

"Right now we are still looking at the driver market situation," Toyota president John Howett said in China last week.

It is rumoured that Glock's contract will be worth $2m a year; a massive saving in comparison to the estimated $19m spent annually on Ralf Schumacher since 2005.

Glock made his formula one debut in 2004, replacing Giorgio Pantano at Jordan late

Its only a rumour yes (and its the German media!), but i think its soon to be a reality, im sure the uncertanty of Prodrive will put him of and with the way how the driver market is looking to shape up im sure he is looking to play it safe and make sure he gets in F1.
But then again we all have to wait for Alonso's fate which after that is resolved everything will be a heack of alot clearer!

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I'm happy for Timo, a great driver.

Just remember, he's already raced for Jordan in 2004, so racing for Toyota will hopefully be progession.

I just hope they give him a decent car!

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Well by the looks of it it seems almost certain that Timo will be in a race seat wether it be Williams or Toyota who he has confirmed he is in talks with! One point he mentioned what made me happy to hear is he didnt car who he got a seat for he just wants to race, good on him!
If nothing comes out of the talks then it seems that BMW will most definatley take him on as a test driver.

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I think Williams would be a great move for Timo, Williams have an all new car next year. Not just update of this years..

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Rumour abaout Ralf
grandprix.com says Ralf is testing for Force India F1(spyker) this winter!!!!

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Für alles über 8 Minuten auf der Nordschleife ziehe ich keinen Helm auf!

For anything over 8 minutes on the Nordschleife I don't put on a helmet!

Walter Röhrl

Poor Ralf, you must feel sorry for him.

How desperate can you get?

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