Briatore to take on new Renault role

Renault boss Flavio Briatore is to take on a revised role within the French car manufacturer next year, with him planning to appoint a team director to help oversee day-to-day running at the outfit

Briatore's current contract with Renault runs out at the end of this year, and he has so far refused to commit himself to a new deal until the future direction of both the team and Formula One had been settled.

However, Briatore has told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport that he will definitely stay on board, although in a new position.

"In 2009 I won't have a 360-degree role anymore," said Briatore, who is set to meet with Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn in Paris today to discuss the future.

"There will be a director, who I've already spotted, to take care of day-by-day management. That way I'll be able to concentrate on the most important things."

Briatore is optimistic that the team, which took their first win of the season in Singapore last weekend, are now back in a position to return to the form that helped them to back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006.

"There are cycles in F1," he said. "Just when the times were difficult, Carlos Ghosn didn't want to lower the budget. F1 isn't just a matter of money; otherwise Toyota would win every race.

"In Renault we had to refresh the whole aerodynamics department. When you change 40 people you need to wait for them to amalgamate. Now we are in line, and we're ready to start over. We have the right people, young and capable."

Renault's hopes of keeping Fernando Alonso on board for next year have been boosted by the Singapore victory, but Briatore still thinks more work is needed to convince the Spaniard. A final decision from Alonso may not come until after the season has finished.

"The victory hasn't changed a thing," said Briatore. "Fernando hasn't offered himself to anyone and I think he's happy to stay, but we will meet about it when the championship ends. What can we offer him? An innovative car and a reshuffle that plays in our hands."

And Briatore has done little to quell speculation that the team are looking to replace Nelson Piquet next year, with Lucas di Grassi believed to be favourite to step up from his testing driving role.

"Piquet hasn't had a good championship so far," said Briatore. "He does good things before qualifying, and then he doesn't go the way he should. We'll see..."