Briatore clears the air with Alonso

Briatore arrived at the Suzuka circuit on Thursday to hear that Alonso had criticised his team for deserting him at races this year - especially when he found himself battling with Fisichella in Indianapolis and Shanghai.

But moving swiftly to control the situation, Briatore has reassured Alonso that his title fight will not be compromised, and the Italian insists that there is no tension between his drivers.

"I talked with Fernando and Fisichella yesterday," said Briatore. "Sometimes we talk about frustration, pressure and this and that, it happens. But I don't think there is any problem at all. Maybe it gives us some more motivation for this weekend."

Briatore insists that Renault have done everything they can to support Alonso this season, and claims the only time the French car manufacturer let the Spaniard down was when his right rear wheel nut came off at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

"I think so, absolutely," said Briatore about the team supporting Alonso. "But not in Budapest, that was one mistake and was our only mistake. It happens.

"On Sunday, in China, I don't think the (second) pitstop had any influence to the race. It looked bad, but overtaking on the circuit is impossible. You never know, though. We lost ten points in Budapest, this was really the reality."

Briatore does believe, however, that Alonso was wrong to think that Fisichella should have helped him out more in China last weekend, when he was struggling with his new intermediate tyres.

"There was no question for Fisi to overtake," explained Briatore. "It was impossible to keep Fisi behind and hold Michael [Schumacher]. You guys saw the race. We never expected the graining, and we changed the tyre only because it was requested by the driver.

"There was no question about responsibility, and the judgement of Fernando was always good. In this moment we decide to change the tyre, but after that it was impossible to keep somebody behind if you are four seconds off the pace."

And referring to similar comments from Alonso last year, when he had also said he felt 'alone', Briatore played down the significance of his driver's statement.

"Fernando said this already at one point last season as well, you remember. Maybe once a year he has this. Now he has done it, he will be okay for the last two races."