Renault has confirmed that Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet are being retained for 2009. Renault would always have wanted to keep Alonso – indeed it’s a two-year deal for him – and with few other drives left, it was looking inevitable that he would stay with the team. Piquet is more of a surprise, given his variable performance, but recent improved results must have convinced the team to give him a second season.

So there are only three seats yet to be filled. Jenson Button hasn’t got a confirmed pal at Honda – if he’s even staying there, which seems assumed though not official. It’s looking like either Rubens Barrichello or GP2 runner-up Bruno Senna.

The other two are at Toro Rosso. Sebastian Vettel is off to Red Bull Racing, and I still think GP2 driver and Red Bull Racing test driver Sébastien Buemi will take his place. Sebastien Bourdais is being made to wait for a decision on whether his services will be retained, following a poor start to the season, but better performances of late. I think he’ll be staying on for a second season, though for me there’s a chance that Takuma Sato could take the seat from him, due to Red Bull’s desire to increase their exposure in Asia.

Meanwhile Lewis Hamilton has echoed Heikki Kovalainen by practically pledging his life to McLaren. Unlike Kovalainen, the team probably feel the same about Hamilton.