Renault team boss Eric Boullier has affirmed that the team will make a decision on their 2012 driver line-up within the next two weeks, namedropping a number of possible replacements for the injured Robert Kubica.
Kubica confirmed via a poorly-worded statement last week that he would not be fit for the start of the 2012 campaign, as he continues to recover from injuries sustained in a rallying accident in February.And although confusion now reigns over the future of Kubica at the team, with the Polish driver not yet contracted to Renault beyond 2012, Boullier says that the team will now hurry forward an announcement on their driver line-up.
"We have discussed at length the different scenarios, and we have had time because with Robert, we were expecting and waiting for news, and now it is in the hands of the board," Boullier was qoted as saying by the Autosport website.
"There is a different strategy with different drivers. It should just be a question of days – either this week or next week maximum."
Those different strategies reflect the wealth of choices Renault have available to them. Current Renault drivers Romain Grosjean and Bruno Senna are in the frame, potentially filling in until Kubica returns midway through the season.
But Boullier also suggested that more experienced drivers could come to the team, namedropping the likes of 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen as well as Williams driver Rubens Barrichello.
"Kimi is a possible scenario... yes, if you want," he shrugged, "But the list is long, and there are even some drivers under contract [elsewhere], who have some clauses to get out of their contracts. So the list is quite long."
He added: "It is true that he [Barrichello] came to me, and we had a couple of emails exchanged because he showed interest as he does not know what Williams is doing.
"But I told him he was not at the top of the list so he should not have much expectation."
Other drivers linked with the team include Force India's Adrian Sutil, who is expected to lose his drive with the Indian team for 2012 to reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg.
As far as Kubica's future was concerned, Boullier said that he would need to see "commitment" from the Pole beyond 2012 before he embarked on a testing return with the driver.
Renault are reportedly concerned at the prospect of wasting time helping Kubica return to F1 action, only for him to move teams for 2013, having been linked with a switch to Ferrari in some recent reports.
"I need to understand if he could be back, and the commitment of Robert for the medium term," Boullier explained regarding their future with Kubica.
"I will not bring a car for him and make a nice test for him if in 2013 he has signed already an option elsewhere."
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