Full Throttle

A Finn gets snatched from the jaws of a Prancing Horse:

Renault will shortly distribute a joint press release confirming the extension of Flavio Briatore’s contract and a sensational deal to snatch Kimi Raikkonen from the clutches of both Ferrari and McLaren Mercedes.

The Finn’s manager, Steve Robertson, spent twenty minutes - from 3.20pm to 3.50pm - in the Renault motor home at Magny Cours on Friday, as he met with Briatore.

26-year-old Raikkonen’s almost certain agreement to race for the blue and yellow team in 2007 follows renewed paddock speculation that Michael Schumacher will definitely race beyond ‘06.

Raikkonen’s camp is pouring water obtained from Verg