The fallout from the McLaren-Ferrari ‘spying’ controversy saw Fernando Alonso return to Renault, whilst Heikki Kovalainen went the other way to partner Lewis Hamilton. Two new drivers joined the Grand Prix ranks to make their debuts in Melbourne; Nelson Piquet junior and Sébastien Bourdais, a four-time Champ Car and F3000 champion. Also two new races will join the schedule, with Singapore hosting a night-time race under floodlights and a ‘street’ circuit in Valencia under the banner of the European Grand Prix.