Briatore: We test too much

"We're still doing too much private testing," said Briatore. "Renault showed last year with the Heathrow deal that it's the efficiency of your testing that counts as much as the number of track days you do. Our rate of development was comparable to that of the top teams.

"Our business is Grand Prix racing and not testing. Grands Prix are all that people want to see. Personally, I would welcome more racing and less testing, but some other people have different views..."

Briatore is otherwise pleased with the revisions to the regulations for 2004, under which engines will have to last longer than last year.

"I think the engine changes are a step in the right direction: they will save money in the long term, even though meeting the regulations will be a challenge for everyone this year."

Like it or not, Renault will have to join the other teams in a vast amount of testing between now and the beginning of the season if they want to keep up. The new engine regulations have given the teams something extra to work on, and they'll be kicking off with a seven-day test at Jerez tomorrow.