> Alonso joins Renault !!

Nikhil

It is not surprising, given how badly Renault wanted him back, but it is now confirmed that Fernando 'Crybaby' Alonso will be joining Renault again. Renault is the team with whom he won 2 world championships in 2005 and 2006 before losing 2007 to Kimi and finishing even behind his rookie teammate.

what is surprising is Heikki Kovalainen has been kicked out as well. I wonder why. Maybe because Alonso fears he'll be another tough competitor like a certain Lewis Hamilton ? Anyway he'll be partnered by Nelson Piquet Jr.

Fernando Alonso has rejoined Renault and will partner Nelson Piquet Jr at the team in 2008, it has been confirmed.

The 26-year-old double world champion rejoins the team he raced for between 2003-2006, winning 15 races and two world titles.

Renault was thought to be the most likely destination for Alonso to resurface after he ended his McLaren contract two years early last month after a turbulent single season at Woking.

Alonso himself confirmed his return to Enstone on his personal website before Renault issued an official statement on Monday afternoon announcing its new pairing.

"Fernando and Nelsinho will form one of the most exciting driver line up of 2008," said team boss Flavio Briatore.

"We are delighted to be welcoming Fernando back home to the team where he enjoyed his greatest success.

"His abilities as a driver and a team leader are well known, and we look forward to forging another strong partnership.

"What's more, he knows the team well and how we operate; he will feel comfortable straight away in this environment."

Piquet Jr's promotion from test driver to a race seat means he will be following in his three-time world champion father Nelson Sr's footsteps.

Briatore says the 22-year-old, runner-up to Lewis Hamilton in the GP2 Series in 2006, is now ready to make the step up to a race role after a year of testing duties.

"Nelsinho is one of the most promising young talents in motorsport," he said.

"After his success in GP2, he has spent a year learning the ropes as our test driver and getting to know the team ; he is now ready to step up to the next level."

After successive double title triumphs, Renault scored just a single podium finish in 2007 and ended the year a distant third in the constructors' championship.

But its president Bernard Rey is confident the team, aided by its new line-up, can bounce back to the front in 2008.

"The entire team has been working flat out over the past months to return to the front of the field, and a top-line driver line-up is essential to achieving our targets.," he said.

"Our recent technology investments, the return of Fernando Alonso to the team, and the promotion of Nelsinho Piquet, all signal our intent to return to winning ways next year."

Renault has also announced that 2007 F3 Euroseries champion Romain Grosjean will be take over from Piquet as chief test driver.

The announcement ends both Giancarlo Fisichella and Heikki Kovalainen's relationship with the team, with both now on the lookout for a seat for 2008.