Formula One news

Briatore expects fantastic showcase in Brazil

Renault Formula 1 team boss Flavio Briatore saw his team racing for race wins one year ago but this season he had to do with a second position by Heikki Kovalainen. The Italian expects a fantastic end of the season this weekend at Interlagos and did not make a secret of his favourite driver: Fernando Alonso.

It is down to three drivers in Brazil this weekend. Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen are fighting for the 2007 Formula 1 championship title. Flavio Briatore's favourite for the title in Brazil is Fernando Alonso he said. He explains: "This is the big pressure moment for all three drivers, and the guy at the front has the most pressure of all. For me, the favourite is still Fernando. He has the experience, he has been there before and he has always been fast in Brazil, which is a difficult and unusual circuit. I think he will be given fair treatment, and he has the mental strength to do the job. But many factors can still intervene and play a role: the weather, Massa, even some other teams as well. It will be a dramatic weekend, and a fantastic showcase for Formula 1."

Alonso has been linked a few times already with a switch to the team he won two world championships with. But Briatore remains politically correct about the situation. "There has been a lot of talk but Fernando has a contract with another team for 2008. At the moment, he is focused on the championship battle, trying to win a third consecutive title. I have said before that if he was free we would be happy to have him back at Renault," he said.

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