Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet Jr. for Renault in 2009 :Confirmed

Spanish Formula 1 driver and former double World Champion 'Fernando Alonso' and his 2008 teamate at Renault 'Nelson Piquet Jr.' were confirmed for the racing seat for 2009 in the French outfit 'Team Renault F1' yesterday. Nelson Piquet Jr. has signed an contract for 1 season(2009) with Renault whereas quite surprisingly Alonso signed an 2yr deal with Renault,which means he is confirmed to drive for Renault for 2 consecutive seasons '2009' and '2010'. 2008 season was an rather roller-coaster ride for Renault and Alonso together,with an forgettable start to the season but an quite an brilliant end to the season with Alonso securing two concecutive (lucky) wins at Singapore and Fuji with an podium at the Final Race at Brazil with an second place finish! Alonso was quite happy with his team 'Renault' and the recent developments in the car. Alonso was seen matching the pace of Ferrari F2008 in his renault during the chinese gp.

Kimi Raikkonen Renews His Ferrari contract: Will Race With Ferrari till 2010 end

Ferrari have extended world champion Kimi Raikkonen's contract to the end of the 2010 season, ending speculation about the Finn's future at the team.

Raikkonen's deal had been due to end at the end of 2009, and there had been reports that Fernando Alonso was set to replace him either then or next year.

But Ferrari said in a statement on Friday that their line-up would remain unchanged for the next two seasons.

Raikkonen's team-mate Felipe Massa also has a contract until 2010.

Raikkonen has produced a string of unconvincing performances this season, when he has often looked a shadow of the man who made a spectacular late charge to win his first drivers' title last season.

The 28-year-old, who is the highest-paid driver in F1, has often been overshadowed by Massa this season and lies third in the championship, 17 points behind the Brazilian and 19 behind McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, heading into Sunday's Italian Grand Prix.

Raikkonen has so far indicated his reluctance to help Massa's title bid while he still has a mathematical chance of winning the championship himself.

It remains to be seen whether his new deal will have any effect on that approach.

So lacklustre have some of his performances been that there had even been claims that he might leave the team at the end of this season, freeing up a space for Alonso.

The Spanish double world champion is known to be a favourite of Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo and is keen to drive for Ferrari in the future.

Alonso has an option to get out of his two-year Renault contract at the end of this season if he wishes and is being courted by the struggling Honda team, as well as BMW Sauber.

He remains the key to this season's driver market, but his options for the future have narrowed considerably now he knows that there will likely be no seat at Ferrari available until at least 2011.