Briatore predicts tough year for McLaren

The Mercedes-powered team, who completed their first win-less season in a decade in 2006, are aiming to bounce back from a difficult year and fight for the titles this year.

McLaren will count on Alonso and GP2 champion Lewis Hamilton, who will partner the Spaniard, to return to winnings ways.

But Briatore, whose Renault team have won both titles in 2005 and 2006, reckons McLaren are set for more disappointment, despite having signed Alonso.

"It will be a tough year for McLaren," Briatore was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport. "I see them having difficulties.

"They've always had fantastic drivers like Raikkonen: they always announce them early to demonstrate they're changing, but this year the book of excuses has come to its last page."

The Italian also believes Ferrari, runners-up to Renault last season, will lose competitiveness following the exit of Michael Schumacher and technical director Ross Brawn.

"Ferrari without Schumacher and Brawn will be less competitive: that's normal when you lose people like those," he added.