Trulli Announces He is Leaving Renault

Renault's Jarno Trulli has taken the initiative and, rather than wait for an official team announcement, has issued a statement this morning at Germany, confirming that he will be leaving the Renault team at the end of the 2004 season.

"I hereby announce that I will be leaving the Renault F1 Team at the end of the 2004 season," Trulli said in a statement that was handed out to the media at Hockenheim. "I am happy with this decision and feel very confident as my plans for the future are clear. I will inform you of them in due course.

"I would like to thank everyone at Renault for the trust and support they have given me during the past three seasons, and also to thank the team for releasing me from my obligations after the final Grand Prix of the season.

"However, until that time, I remain as motivated as ever, and am fully focused on the current Championship. This season has been a very successful one, and I intend to add more achievements, for myself and the team, before it is over."

Trulli joined the team as a replacement for Italian Giancarlo Fisichella - who is set to return to Renault next year - at the start of the 2002 season. He won his first race for the team in this year's Monaco Grand Prix.

Italian Trulli is the only driver other than Michael Schumacher to have won a race this season and has collected 46 points - 13 more than team-mate Fernando Alonso - to put himself fourth in the title race.

He is expected to join the Toyota team for 2005, where he would team up with German Ralf Schumacher, whose end of season move from Williams-BMW has already been announced.