Renault retains Alonso and Trulli for 2004

It comes as no surprise that Renault has announced it will retain Fernando Alonso and Jarno Trulli as race drivers for 2004. The 22 year old Spaniard and 29 year old Italian have scored four podium finishes between them in 2003 and have already put ...

It comes as no surprise that Renault has announced it will retain Fernando Alonso and Jarno Trulli as race drivers for 2004. The 22 year old Spaniard and 29 year old Italian have scored four podium finishes between them in 2003 and have already put Renault in an unassailable fourth place in the Constructors' standings.

Fernando Alonso and Jarno Trulli.

Photo by LAT Photographic.

"We have re-confirmed our drivers for 2004," commented Renault F1 Team Chairman Patrick Faure in a statement released on August 20th. "The atmosphere in the team is excellent, the relationship between our drivers outstanding, and the technical team works well with them."

"A stable environment is one of the pre-conditions for success, and this is why we believe maintaining our driver line-up is a key factor as our programme builds to full competitiveness."

Renault has achieved what it set out to do this year and thinks the combination of Trulli's experience and Alonso's potential is the way to keep going forward: "This driver line-up provides us with a perfect balance," said Managing director Flavio Briatore. "Next year will be Jarno's eighth season in Formula 1, and everybody knows he is an extremely fast, competitive racing driver."

"Fernando has more than justified the faith we showed in him last year, and is maturing with the team as he acquires experience at the highest level. Our objectives for 2003 have been achieved, and in some cases exceeded. For next season, we are looking to take a further step forward, and believe these are the drivers who will enable us do that."

Alonso is currently sixth in the Driver's standings, including one second pace and two third place finishes, and Trulli eighth, including third at the last race in Germany. Whether Allan McNish will continue as Renault's official test driver remains to be seen.