Briatore targets winning feeling to keep Alonso

Tuesday 2nd December 2008

Renault F1 boss Flavio Briatore believes that the only way to prevent Fernando Alonso from moving on before the end of his new two-year contract is for the team to continue their late-season success.

There's plenty of speculation surrounding the Spaniard who is reportedly being targeted by Ferrari.

Renault ended 2008 on a high note after Alonso won two races and out-scored everyone from Belgium onwards. Briatore admits that Renault need to keep up the pace if they wish to keep Alonso by their side.

"We must give him nothing less than a winning car," he told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

"It is our goal of becoming champion again with Fernando in 2009, and I believe we have a good chance of that, but, if you have a bad car, you can't hold on to any driver."

Flave is all too familiar with the pressure and admitted that he felt the same pressure for most of 2008 until Alonso was confirmed along with Nelson Piquet Jr for 2009 following victories in Singapore and Japan.

Briatore also admitted that that he was keeping a tight lid on speculation and wanted to make the announcement on Alonso's future at the end of the season.

"We always wanted to do that at the end of the season," the Italian said.

"The speculation that Fernando might go to Ferrari, BMW or Honda began to circulate in Melbourne, but we always kept silent on the subject."

Your Comments

pulmomed

"I am a Hamilton fan, but, as much as I dislike Fernando's way of doing things, he is the best out there. "

over

"How can anybody say that Alonso is the best diver ?

Alonso was never compared to any front runners

Ok Trulli in 2004(he was canned by renault4races before the end of the season).At his last race with Renault he was leading his taem mate in points(trulli is a great qualifier, his race speed leaves the others in the trulli train. 2005 Renault has michelin tires , alonso has fisichella as a teammate and kimi breaks down three times while the gps.

2006 The michelin tires are finaly seen as the best..

Renault remain with their drivers while Schu comes back

to fight for the title.

2007 Alonso joins Mclaren, he has the upper hand on his rookie teammate till the 5th gp.Alonso accuses the team

of giving hamilton a better car..The fIA put a person in the Mclaren gararage to make sure that Alonso is getting the same equipement..Result 3 tenth of Hamiltons qualifing lap in Brazil..The best F1 drivers

in my mind are either Vetttel or Hamilton (maybe kubica)

2008 Alonso is seen as the best driver .At the start of the season i think his hit more cars then anyother driver in their race carrer.ps his team mate nelson jr

2009 alonso remains at renault with piquet as his teammate .Why did renault not take Barichello..I believe Alonso had a say on who should be his teammate.

Alonso wants to go to ferrari..I'll bet anybody that it will end UP like AT MCLAREN , BECAUSE Massa will outperform him.I don't think ferrari will give him n1 status over Massa."

dwalrus

"Fernando has the talent,you have to give him the proper equipment or he has to leave.....simple as that.I can not believe what he can do with a mid field car,he impressed me to no end this season."

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