Briatore Says Team Spirit Was Key

[Senna 0]

Briatore says team spirit was key

BBC:

Renault boss Flavio Briatore says his team's spirit was key to winning both the drivers' and constructors' titles.

Champion Fernando Alonso claimed the season-ending China Grand Prix to lead Renault to the constructors' crown, but Briatore insists it was a team effort.

"This was really a victory for the team," Briatore told BBC Radio Five Live. "Everyone did an incredible job from Fernando to the last mechanic.

"The team has worked so hard and I'm happy for my people not for myself."

The Italian businessman had previously won the constructors' title with Benetton in 1995.

But, after returning to Formula One in 2001 to form the Renault team, he said he was both surprised and delighted to emulate his feat so quickly.

"We won the championship in four years," said Briatore. "It's fantastic. Nobody has done that before and I'm very pleased."

"We feel our championship efforts were thwarted by our conservative approach to the first four races"

McLaren boss Ron Dennis

Briatore was also jubilant after quashing the ambitions of rivals McLaren, who had slim hopes of stealing the constructors' crown from Renault.

"McLaren completely built up the constructors' championship but we won that as well," said Briatore.

"We beat McLaren fair and square. We do the job when we have to do the job."

Dennis and Montoya rue their bad luck at the China Grand Prix

McLaren's challenge effectively ended when Juan Pablo Montoya was forced to retire after damaging his car running over a loose drain cover.

But boss Ron Dennis conceded his team had already undermined their own title chances in the first half of the campaign.

"A manhole cover that's caught us screwed us up in China," said the McLaren chief. "But you don't win or lose championships on one race.

"We strongly feel our championship efforts were thwarted by our conservative approach to the first four grands prix.

"That's of course the benefit of hindsight. We got 19 podiums, 10 race wins - it's hardly a disaster."

[Max Mosley 2]

Whether FA drove better than KR this year is debatable but its surely clear that as a team Renault out-performed McLaren. It seems from China that they could have designed a car about as quick as the McLaren but they judged the reliability better. To some extent Ron is perhaps right that McLaren blew it in the first few races then had to take risks to catch up but that doesn't change the conclusions (and of course he isn't arguing).

[Taku 0]

team spirit on one side of the garage anyway!

however, flavio must be commended for his rare display of maturity and *cough, dare i say it, leadership in supporting fis after fisi threw away the win on the last lap last week.

[Senna 0]

however, flavio must be commended for his rare display of maturity and *cough, dare i say it, leadership in supporting fis after fisi threw away the win on the last lap last week.

Did Fizzy throw away the win or did Kimi force him into an error and execute a sublime overtaking manoeuvre? A move that made Big Ron shed tears

[Max Mosley 2]

Bit of both imo. He was under intense pressure but should have kept the place but then we've never been in that situation.

[Senna 0]

Bit of both imo. He was under intense pressure but should have kept the place but then we've never been in that situation.

Indeed, Fizzy was too defensive into the chicane and this hurt his exist speed and thus he was slower on the pit straight, which gave Kimi an opportunity into Turn 1 and he masterfully overtook the Italian to reaffirm his status as one of the very best drivers in the world.

[pumpdoc 2]

Indeed, Fizzy was too defensive into the chicane and this hurt his exist speed and thus he was slower on the pit straight, which gave Kimi an opportunity into Turn 1 and he masterfully overtook the Italian to reaffirm his status as one of the very best drivers in the world.

Indeed, this has to be one of if not the best pass for a win in a long time.........................

[ecapdeville 0]

Indeed, this has to be one of if not the best pass for a win in a long time.........................

Indeed!, great pass for Kimi...

[Senna 0]

Indeed. It was a joy to behold. We