Briatore: Renault paying for 2006 effort

Spaniard Fernando Alonso gave the French team their second straight title in 2006, however Briatore believes that the effort that the team put into helping make it happen compromised the development of the 2007 car.

"This year, we have not done the job properly," the Italian told reporters in Magny-Cours. "We developed the 2006 car to the end for obvious reasons, and now we are late.

"In this job, if you make a mistake, you pay. And now we are paying. We are recovering, that's for sure, and I hope we are competitive here [in France].

"Competitive means behind Ferrari and McLaren. Our fight is with BMW. This is what we are doing. We try to have something new at every race because now, finally, something is happening at the factory and we believe we are in good shape; maybe after Silverstone.

"But really, it's the normal process. When you are late with these pieces it's very difficult to catch up because everybody is so good, and everybody's improving."