Renault 'proud' of smaller budget

Speaking in a press conference in the Monaco paddock on Sunday morning, Ghosn said he believes his team have got their priorities right.

"What is important is performance, he said. "We are performance-driven. Period."

He said that the team are provided with what they need to succeed rather than being given a set amount that they have to work with.

"The budget doesn't come first and then the team tell me what performance they can get for this amount," he said. "They don't use success to ask for more.

"The most gifted people use smaller budgets for the best results. I'm very proud of our team, which do have probably one of the smallest budgets. We shouldn't be ashamed of this, we should be proud.

"I would be embarrassed to have the biggest budget and no results."

Renault have committed to F1 beyond 2008 despite widespread speculation that the company would pull out of the sport.

"When Renault is in, it is in - it is not sitting on the fence. We are in F1, we are staying in F1," said Ghosn.

"The challenge is not participating in F1, it is to know how to use the fallout from F1 for the benefit of the Renault brand. This is not Alain Dassas's problem or Flavio Briatore's problem, it's Renault's problem.

"The team are competing at a high level. Flavio and the team are doing a great job. The question is how Renault should use this success for the brand."

Ghosn added that he has no preference when it comes to drivers for next year.

"In Alain Dassas and Flavio Briatore I have complete trust," he said. "In terms of who will drive the car next year I can give them my opinion, but I'm not sure I will, because I'm not the best person to ask about this."