Briatore pleased with drivers' performance

The world champions are yet to finish on the podium this season, with a couple of fourth places by Giancarlo Fisichella and Heikki Kovalainen as their best results after seven races.

But Briatore says the team's form has little to do with their drivers' performance.

"I'm only happy when we are winning. Now it's not possible to win and the problem is with the car, not with the drivers," the Italian said in an interview with AS newspaper. "The potential of Heikki and Giancarlo is pretty good. Kovalainen must show it.

"Fisichella has done a very good job considering the car we have. We must work with them to improve, without pressure."

Rookie Kovalainen endured a difficult start to the year, but the Finn is showing signs of improving form after scoring his best result in Montreal and then putting on another strong performance in Indianapolis.

"Heikki must work with the team and understand the errors he has made," added Briatore. "He has already improved in the last races, with a great recovery in Montreal. We need to be prudent, help him and try to improve the car.

"A young driver, if the car is good, can achieve great results. If the car is difficult to driver it will be harder for him to grow."

Briatore reckons Kovalainen, who spent last year working as a test driver for Renault, has been hurt by not racing for a whole season.

"Lewis (Hamilton) competed in GP2 in 2006 and Kovalainen didn't. And that could have been our mistake, he has arrived without racing experience," he said. "Errors are paid, but the atmosphere is that of a team looking to be in the top three again."