Briatore Ready to Offer Alonso, Webber to Jaguar

Renault boss Flavio Briatore admitted on Friday that he could offer Jaguar team boss Niki Lauda one of his contracted drivers next season as a replacement for Eddie Irvine.

Australian Mark Webber, who races for Minardi but is currently contracted to flamboyant Italian Briatore, will test for Jaguar next week and Renault test driver Fernando Alonso, of Spain, has already driven the team's R3 car.

Lauda claimed on Friday that Jaguar is simply using the tests "to get information from other cars." But it is unlikely that Renault or Minardi would be happy to offer their rivals such information.

When asked if he would be happy to offer Lauda one of his drivers, Briatore smiled and replied: "Why not? But it is Niki's decision and that is for him to say."

Lauda, meanwhile, admitted that he is yet to make a decision on Irvine's future and the veteran driver is rumoured to be on his way, possibly to Toyota, because Jaguar do not want to pay his high salary.

Speculation is rife that the Ulsterman will be forced out of the team, but when asked if Irvine would stay in 2003, Lauda replied: "As far as I am concerned at the moment, yes."