While the world awaits any news about Fernando Alonso's future, the fate of Heikki Kovalainen is just as intriguing. If Alonso finally opts for a return to Renault, then it will most likely be to partner Nelson Piquet Jr, a rookie that the Spaniard will be happy to have alongside him.
That in turn means team chief Flavio Briatore will have to find a new home for his Finnish driver. After an impressive season, Briatore certainly has a much better chance of placing Kovalainen elsewhere than he would Piquet, who remains something of an unknown quantity.
Wednesday's announcement from Williams saw one possible door close, but another - at McLaren - remains open. In many ways, Kovalainen is the perfect driver for the job of running alongside Lewis Hamilton, and not just because he has experience of filling Alonso's shoes. He would give Hamilton a hard time without any of the baggage that the Spaniard brought, and clearly has the mental strength and maturity to cope with anything that might come his way.