Briatore: Alonso would have won 2018 title with Ferrari

Former Renault F1 team boss Flavio Briatore believes that his former driver Fernando Alonso would have been world champion in 2018 if he had been driving for Ferrari rather than Sebastian Vettel. Ferrari perhaps had the strongest car for most of the season, but key mistakes by the German allowed Lewis Hamilton to take his fifth world title.

Vettel tailed off badly towards the end of last season, only taking victory once after the summer break, having been favourite for the title just a couple of weeks earlier.

The mistakes were a key factor in the eventual 88 point gap between Hamilton and Vettel, but Briatore believes that a driver such as Alonso would not have made those mistakes.

The Italian told Bai Radio: "The driver can play a role. I remain convinced: Fernando Alonso would have conquered the title in 2018 with a Ferrari. Because he would have made fewer mistakes than Vettel.

"Lewis Hamilton is so strong because he makes few mistakes, even the Mercedes racing team gets everything spot on. The Silver Arrow is already very good."