F1: Alonso signs new two-year deal at Renault

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MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Fernando Alonso has opted to stay with Renault, signing a two-year contract extention that will keep him at the French Formula One team through 2010.


Piquet has had plenty of reason to celebrate at the end of the current season.

Renault also said Nelson Piquet Jr. will remain with the team next year, leaving its driver lineup unchanged for the 2009 season.

Alonso left McLaren last year to return to Renault after a rocky partnership with Lewis Hamilton, but flirted with such teams as Ferrari and BMW Sauber during this season.

However, he was persuaded to stay after a positive finish to the season when the Spaniard won two of the last four races.

"After a difficult start to the season we have overcome our difficulties and constantly improved our performances," Alonso said.

"My back-to-back wins in Singapore and Japan, and my recent second-place podium finish in Brazil have proved how competitive we can be."

Alonso won back-to-back championships with Renault in 2005 and 2006. Before Hamilton's victory at the Brazilian GP last Sunday, he was the youngest champion in F1 history.

He finished the season with 61 points -- 37 behind champion Hamilton.

Team principal Flavio Briatore hailed Alonso's "leadership" and "determination" after the 27-year-old's return started poorly, with Alonso regularly finishing out of the points. In the first 10 races, his best finish was fourth place in Australia.

"I have decided to stay with the Renault F1 team because, as I have often repeated this season, they have always been my first choice and I feel very happy and comfortable with them," Alonso said.

Renault stuck with Piquet Jr. despite an erratic season that saw the 23-year-old Brazilian finish second at Hockenheim but failing to finish 13 of the 18 races.

GP2 driver Romain Grosjean, who came up in the team's young driver program and who had tested for the team at Jerez this year, was believed to have been in the running to take Piquet Jr.'s place.

"Although I have had a tough year, I have learned a lot from my rookie season and I will aim to put that experience to good use next season," Piquet Jr. said.

In other Formula One news, Lewis Hamilton received a heroes welcome when he visited the headquarters of his McLaren team on Wednesday.

The new world champion said he plans to spend the rest of his career with the British-based team.

Hamilton, 23, clinched the championship in a dramatic final race in Brazil on Sunday.

CNN