Formula 1 Events

Flavio Briatore is still enjoying the challenge of running a Formula 1 team and has reiterated his desire to challenge for the World Championship over the coming months.

The 2008 season begins in Melbourne on March 16 and marks Briatore’s reunion with two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso following his unsuccessful spell at McLaren.

Alonso has already acknowledged the weight of the challenge facing Renault this year as they try to close the gap on Ferrari and McLaren, but his team principal is predicting a more fan-friendly championship due to the loss of traction control and engine braking.

"That means the cars will be more difficult to handle and mistakes are more likely to happen," Briatore says on the new rules.

"Mistakes are one major cause for overtaking and overtaking is what people want to see. But we also need to close the wide gap between the fans and the drivers. After all, they pay a lot of money to come to the races."

Briatore made his name as head of the Benetton fashion brand but has adapted to life in Formula 1, a role he still enjoys.

"It is a fantastic adventure to lead a top-line Formula 1 team," he told the Irish Times.

"I am responsible for delivering the team’s objectives. That means finding the right people for the key positions, defining a strategy and motivating my people to do the job. I give people freedom and responsibility to do their jobs how they need to, and keep my management structure light.

"And when the time comes, I make decisions quickly and decisively. If you lose a moment when it comes to deciding the direction you are going on, then it has major consequences on the track much later.

"You need transparency at every level in the team. The people must understand their targets, and how to achieve them. Everybody must have a clear vision of the objectives and work hard towards them. And you can only achieve this when you have transparency."

Regarding the 2008 season, Briatore added: "Our target for 2008 is catching up with Ferrari and McLaren again in order to win the world championship for Renault with Fernando.

"We are all competitive people, and there is nothing like the feeling of leading a team of people to success."