Fernando Alonso Will Be World Champion - Flavio Briatore

Flavio Briatore, Renault Team Boss believes that Fernando Alonso is going the win the world championship.

The flamboyant Italian was the team boss of Renault when he scouted Alonso and he guided him to his first 2 world championships in 2005 and 2006.

Lewis Hamilton, Alonso’s nearest competitor has moved 10 points ahead in the standings after another win at the USGP.

“Fernando will win, I’m 100% sure,” Briatore said in a newspaper interview. “He knows what he needs to do. Last year there was a moment when it looked like he would lose the title. Everybody thought he was going to lose it. But pushing together we ended up winning."

“To win, he must do the same thing he did in the last four races last year. Focus on his work in the car, not let outside voices distract him.”

Briatore added: “I think Fernando, above all, is a champion. Like everybody, he is having difficulties to adapt to a new team. He has gone from using Michelin tires to using Bridgestone, while Hamilton already knows the tires from GP2.

“He has experience and, if the McLaren stays ahead of the Ferrari, he must remain calm, focus on himself, forget about the rest, and that way he will win the title.”

Emerson Fittipaldi wants Renault to give Nelson Piquet Jr. a chance.

Nelson Piquet Jr should be given a chance to resume his personal battle with former GP2 Series rival Lewis Hamilton, according to double world champion Emerson Fittipaldi.

The Brazilian veteran has told Reuters that he feels his younger countryman could surprise as much as Hamilton has done if given the chance to race this season, despite the fact that Piquet would be lining up with Renault. Hamilton won his second grand prix in as many weekends when he beat team-mate Fernando Alonso to the line at Indianapolis on Sunday, but most accept that his success has been accelerated by running with Mclaren, which has established itself as the form team in 2007.

Fittipaldi, however, has called on Renault boss Flavio Briatore to replace one of his current line-up with Piquet Jr, a decision that may have been easier until the end of last month as rookie Heikki Kovalainen struggled for form. However, the Finn has since recorded back-to-back points finishes in Canada and the USA, coming from last on the grid to take fourth in Montréal and out-qualifying veteran team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella at Indianapolis.

Piquet has been tipped to replace either driver since being signed as Renault's reserve this season, but is more likely to step up at the end of the year should Fisichella decide to hang up his helmet.

"Nelson and Lewis were the two hardest competitors in GP2 last year," Fittipaldi reasoned, "He's extremely talented and, if you ask me what is the next hope for Brazil, I think it's Nelson Piquet Jr. Talking about natural talent, I think Nelsinho could surprise as much as Hamilton has surprised."

The Brazilian A1GP team boss, who has first hand experience of working with Piquet in the World Cup of Motorsport, went to claim that his 'protege' had more potential for success than current Ferrari points leader Felipe Massa - in much the same way as Hamilton has raised British hopes over and above those previously carried by Jenson Button.

source: crash.net

Flavio Briatore calls Formula One "very boring"

Here is an excerpt from the story reported on Bloomberg.com.

Flavio Briatore, who led Renault SA to the past two Formula One titles, said races should be shortened from their current 1 1/2 hours because his French team and Ferrari dominate the motor sport.

"The last 30 minutes are very boring,'' Briatore said in an interview in London. Formula One has to "improve our performance for TV because the income comes from TV.''

"If the race is normal the way we operate, the two quick cars are in front and it's not so exciting,'' he said. "It is good only if something unexpected happens, or if it's raining.''

source: Alex Duff and Marco Langmann (Bloomberg)

Read the full story: Briatore, After Title Wins, Says Formula One Is `Very Boring'