Raikkonen on the way to Renault

Renault is now favourite to win the services of Kimi Raikkonen to replace McLaren-bound Fernando Alonso.

The Finnish star remained tight-lipped throughout the Canadian Grand Prix, but his management team are believed to be close to concluding a deal with the French outfit.

This could be announced over the French GP weekend in the middle of July, the time that Renault traditionally reveals its driver line-up. It has already re-signed Giancarlo Fisichella and is expected to place highly rated Finnish test driver Heikki Kovalainen with Red Bull Racing next season. Raikkonen, twice a runner-up in the world championship, endured a torrid weekend in Montreal.

He qualified third, then ran off the road in the last corner, gifting Michael Schumacher second place. “I just ran on to the sand and the cir-cuit was breaking up in a few places, so I could not do anything about it,” said Raikkonen. “It’s not ideal, but to me it does not matter if I am second or third if I do not win.”