Kimi, Heikki, Massa, Renault and Red Bull
When asked about solid speculation linking Renault engines and test driver Heikki Kovalainen with the team next year, Red Bull principal Christian Horner told Speed TV: ''We're not going to train up drivers for other teams.''
Without further ado, then, current Ferrari racer Felipe Massa's name dropped into the hat.
''He's a talented kid,'' said Horner, ''and another driver that depends on the whole Kimi-Michael scenario.''
Incumbent Christian Klien seems to be the one in the ejector seat, with David Coulthard likely to be retained beyond October's race in Brazil.
Klien admitted at Indianapolis that he had been a little 'surprised' that criticism of his driving had recently been coming from within the team.
Confirming that his current contract is for one year only, he explained that he would soon try to travel to Salzburg to meet directly with big cheese Dietrich Mateschitz.
Klien added: ''I can't say much more about it.''
06/29/06 (GMM) F1 rookie Nico Rosberg has chimed-in with some advice for Kimi Raikkonen — switch to Renault.
Asked by 'Sport Bild' where he thought McLaren's probably-departing Finn would go next year, Williams' Rosberg said: ''Renault or Ferrari.
''I think he should go to Renault because they will have the best car.''
Spanish newspaper 'AS' agrees, reporting confidently that 26-year-old Raikkonen 'will be confirmed by Renault at Magny-Cours'.
With Giancarlo Fisichella already confirmed for 2007, Kimi's arrival at Renault will mean that countryman and existing test driver Heikki Kovalainen will be forced to find a seat elsewhere.
The young Finn told Italian magazine Autosprint that he 'won't accept' another year as a mere test driver. Indeed, 'AS' reckons he will line up alongside Mark Webber and David Coulthard somewhere in the Red Bull stable.
But Kovalainen, 24, added: ''My priority is to stay where I am.
''I know the team and the people and it would be a shame to throw away all the work done so far.''