Briatore warns against complacency

The French car manufacturer have led the way all season to open up a comfortable lead over rivals Ferrari, but Briatore is adamant that his team cannot afford to sit back and think the title is already won.

When asked whether he believed the team could repeat their double from 2005, he said: "Yes, I believe so. We have the performance, the reliability and the people. They are doing the job, and doing it well.

"If we carry on, if we take nothing for granted and continue to push ourselves, then we can do it. It will be a tough fight, but that is the challenge and the thrill of F1 - to work with the team, with its people, to achieve your goals together.

"That is what really motivates me - and I know we have the ability to take the championships this year."

Technical director Bob Bell says he has no doubts that Renault are fired up for the challenge that lies ahead - and are ready to push more for this title than they did last year.

"The pressure to deliver doesn't just come from the outside: it comes from every member of the team," he said. "There is a self-imposed desire to take things to the next level, to move on and to do an even better job than last year.

"It is a paradoxical situation we find ourselves in. Last year, we had nothing to lose but could afford to take a slightly conservative approach to our racing. This year, we have everything to lose but we need to really push like hell to stay ahead."

Director of engineering Pat Symonds thinks the second half of the season will be more complicated than the second by the re-emergence of McLaren as a force to be reckoned with.

"In the last few races, we have seen that McLaren are coming back in to the mix and they will play a major role," he explained. "At the start of the year, I was expecting a four-way fight between Renault, Ferrari, McLaren and Honda. Ferrari have lived up to expectations, and Honda seem to be further behind than we thought.

"But after struggling in the opening races, McLaren are right back at the front. We are no longer fighting just one team but two. It will be a thrilling finish to the year - and one where we intend to come out on top."