Fisichella urges Briatore to stay

Briatore's contract with the French car manufacturer runs out at the end of this year and the Italian has said that he will not be making a decision about his future until the end of July.

However, Fisichella has told autosport.com that the team should not underestimate the job that Briatore has done in helping guide Renault to the world championship last year - and thinks it is crucial that he remains to continue their success.

"It is important that Flavio stays," said Fisichella, who has just announced that he will be remaining with Renault in 2007.

"He has done great work since 2001, and although that season was frustrating because the package was not very good, since then we have been able to win the championship. And most probably we will win this year again.

"He is a great guy in business and Renault have to have him."

Although speculation has suggested that Toyota have tried to lure Briatore away from Renault, the likelihood is that the Italian will either remain at his current team or quit F1 altogether.

Last week, Briatore said that the team had everything that he felt it needed for him to want to continue, especially with Renault president Alain Dassas' giving a long-term commitment to the sport, but that the final decision would relate to his personal circumstances.

"After the commitment from the president of Renault I have pretty much what I want, what I want to achieve, to have the ability to continue to win," said Briatore.

"But this job takes 90 percent of your time. I enjoy what I do at this moment but tomorrow I don't know. The motivation is there but I am living day by day."

Fisichella believes there is no reason why Renault cannot continue to be strong in the sport, even though the team will have to forge a new relationship with Bridgestone next year.

" I am confident about that," he said. "I am sure we can build a quick car with Bridgestone. It is true we have no experience