Fisichella extends contract with Renault until end of 2007

Ed · Post by Ed » Thu Jun 15, 2006 9:01 pm

The Renault team have announced today the extension of Giancarlo Fisichella's contract until the end of the 2007 F1 Season. The team has yet to announce who the second driver will be.

Giancarlo Fisichella said:

It was very important for me to know my future as soon as possible in the season. I am delighted to be staying at Renault next year, and to have the opportunity to see my hard work with the team over the past two seasons come to fruition. I want to thank the Renault F1 Team and the Renault Group for the trust they have placed in me. This clear vision for the future means I can focus 100% on the job at hand: retaining the constructors' championship with Renault in 2006 and finishing as high as possible in the drivers' standings.

Renault Managing Director Flavio Briatore said:

We are extremely pleased to continue working with Giancarlo next year. He was an integral part of our championship success last year; he has upped his game significantly for 2006, making the team even stronger; we believe he can do it again for 2007. It is important for Renault to maintain continuity as we move into next year, and Giancarlo's integration with the team is now perfect. What's more, his experience with the team over two championship campaigns will be an invaluable asset. We will have ambitious targets for next season, and Giancarlo is capable of achieving them.

jacfan · Post by **jacfan** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 9:35 pm

Well that clears up one of the rumours flying around.

RE30B#16 · Post by **RE30B#16** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 3:07 am

Yay, Fisico!!!!

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 2:36 pm

jacfan wrote:Well that clears up one of the rumours flying around.

And opens up a whole host of others

Good to see the team realises his ability

rah · Post by **rah** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 3:17 pm

Even though I predicted this earlier in the season, I strongly doubted it would happen as the season progressed. Oh well, I guess I can be right every now and then.

Now who will partner him? Kimi or Kovi. Has to be one of these two.

Oh and Flavio is still yet to sign on for next year too.

Bundy · Post by **Bundy** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 3:55 pm

rah wrote:Even though I predicted this earlier in the season, I strongly doubted it would happen as the season progressed. Oh well, I guess I can be right every now and then.

Now who will partner him? Kimi or Kovi. Has to be one of these two.

Oh and Flavio is still yet to sign on for next year too.

You would have to think that Kimi is now almost assured to be driving with Renault next year. As good as GF is he does not push FA consistently enough to be considered a chance for the WDC but he is good support.

And I doubt Renault will go into next year without a driver who could win the WDC.

jacfan · Post by **jacfan** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 4:23 pm

Julian Mayo wrote:
jacfan wrote:Well that clears up one of the rumours flying around.
And opens up a whole host of others
Good to see the team realises his ability

It seems to me that there are always rumours flying around about drivers, teams and so forth.

Hopefully Fisi will get a chance to be the No 1 driver for a while.

rah · Post by **rah** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 5:09 pm

Bundy wrote:
rah wrote:Even though I predicted this earlier in the season, I strongly doubted it would happen as the season progressed. Oh well, I guess I can be right every now and then.

Now who will partner him? Kimi or Kovi. Has to be one of these two.

Oh and Flavio is still yet to sign on for next year too.
You would have to think that Kimi is now almost assured to be driving with Renault next year. As good as GF is he does not push FA consistently enough to be considered a chance for the WDC but he is good support.

And I doubt Renault will go into next year without a driver who could win the WDC.

That is what I would think will happen. But if they do that then Kovi will not be too happy. Every report I have read believes (not proven) that kovi has a contract to drive next year. Unless they push him off to another team for a year or too there might be some unplesentness and Renault could lose an upcoming star.

Could also depend on what Schumi does. If he leaves then Kimi will go there. But he probably wont.

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 5:29 pm

If Flavio does not re-sign, Webber would be a very strong chance for a Renault seat. The pair of them are being very tight lipped.

JayVee · Post by **JayVee** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 5:35 pm

I am very surprised by this decision. I can't see Fisichella winning the Championship. The only explanation is that Renault have a top driver ready to sign for them.
I wanted to see Kovalainen in the second seat though

rah · Post by **rah** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:59 am

I would like to agree with Julian, but I think that JayVee is on the money with this one.

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 12:06 pm

rah wrote:I would like to agree with Julian, but I think that JayVee is on the money with this one.

Whoa. I dunno nuttin. I am not even going to guess who will get the seat. Just floating ideas, and airing what I do know. Which is sweet FA.

rah · Post by **rah** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 1:53 pm

The only reason Flavio wont re sighn is if he thinks he will not win the championships next year. Unfortunately now that Fisi has re sighned I think that Webber's chances in Blue next year are slim to bugger all.

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 1:58 pm

rah wrote:The only reason Flavio wont re sighn is if he thinks he will not win the championships next year. Unfortunately now that Fisi has re sighned I think that Webber's chances in Blue next year are slim to bugger all.

I think that if Flavio re-signs, Webber will have no chance.....cos Flavio would be taking his cut (from Webber) from his own team.

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:32 am

According to F1 Racing Torro Ross has done a deal with Renault for engines, which includes a seat for Unpronouncable Finnish name.
Berger is quoted as saying this. The team has publicly questioned why their ferrari engines are 500 rpm down on the units in ferrari cars.
He also says that none of their drivers are safe for 2007......"they have the next few races to prove themselves"
the article also quotes him as saying DC is getting a bit long in the tooth, and JPM was not in contention after rejecting a large pay cut to join the team.