Oct.28 (GMM) Finnish rookie Heikki Kovalainen has admitted to staging talks with 'many' formula one teams, including McLaren, about the 2008 season.

The 26-year-old has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Fernando Alonso, particularly amid rumours that the unhappy Spaniard might be set to switch from the Woking based team to Renault next year.

Kovalainen and his teammate this season, Giancarlo Fisichella, have yet to be re-signed for Renault, as a growing swathe of their fellow drivers await a late silly-season rush in the event that Alonso does indeed make a move.

In an interview with ITV, Kovalainen admitted that McLaren might be interested in him for 2008, but jokingly rued his poor qualifying performance at the season finale last Sunday.

"They probably would have thought 'maybe better not to think about him'," he said.

"But honestly, we have been talking to many teams and all I can say is I have a contract with Renault until the end of the year.

"We have to wait and see what the other guys do."