Briatore hails Renault's progress

The team had scored just one podium finish before the Singapore Grand Prix, but two-time champion Fernando Alonso won the night race and repeated the feat in Japan on Sunday.

The Spanish driver has outscored all his rivals in the last six races, where he has managed 35 of his 48 points.

Briatore reckons Renault had the quickest car in the Fuji race.

"Alonso's victory confirms that Renault have been very competitive for at least four or five races," Briatore was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport.

"We've done a tremendous job at the factory in the last three months, and in Shanghai you'll see another new thing. If the car works well, so do the drivers.

"This time it wasn't a question of talking advantage of opportunities, like in Singapore. This time the Renault was the quickest car. After 18 laps we were doing better than Ferrari and Hamilton."

The Italian also insisted Renault will only reveal their line-up for 2009 at the end of the season.

"I repeat we'll announce our drivers at the end of the season."