Renault revealed Dutch financial firm ING as its primary backer for 2007, replacing Japan Tobacco as cigarette sponsorship is stubbed out for good at the end of the year. No word was recieved on the colour scheme of the cars to be raced by
Giancarlo Fisichella and
Heikki Kovalainen next year, although suggestions of an orange-and-blue machine ar ebeing played down.
On the driver front, the most significant event pre-Brazil turned out to be a non-event as
Lewis Hamilton was denied a debut with
McLaren at Interlagos. Team and driver both insisted that there was nothing to be gained by rushing him into a race seat. Hamilton remains favourite to partner Alonso at McLaren next season, although Pedro de la Rosa has one more race, plus winter testing, to stake his claim. Gary Paffett, the only other contender, is apparently being hawked around other teams in the hope of landing a role.
One man confirmed in employment for 2007 is Franck Montagny, whose deal to join
Toyota as test and reserve lynchpin was finally revealed on the eve of the final round. The Frenchman repalces Renault-bound Ricardo Zonta and the retiring - from
F1 at least - Olivier Panis.
NEWS FROM THE TEAMS:
Renault – Fernando Alonso (#1), Giancarlo Fisichella (#2):
If China appeared to be a watershed for
Renault, with the team apparently throwing away victory - and a possible 1-2 finish - Japan reveresed its fortunes, with Fernando Alonso winning a grand prix seemingly destined for
Michael Schumacher.
The Spaniard was tailing the German when the
Ferrari driver's engine let go, but had been in damage limitation mode as Schumacher dominated from the start. The failure, however, handed the title initiative back to Alonso - even if he is refusing to pay any attention to his rival's 'it's over' claims.
