Briatore: Alonso will not get a pay raise!

By role
June 24 2003

Flavio Briatore, Renault F1 Managing Director, has declared that despite the strong performance of Fernando Alonso he is not in line to get a pay raise any time soon. Fernando Alonso is currently 3rd on the Driver’s Championship and at 21 years of age he is expected to be one of the best very soon.

Briatore was asked by Spanish Sport newspaper “As” about Alonso future on the team as well as his qualities as a driver:
“He is fast without having accidents. He gives the precise and adequate information to the engineers. That’s what we need, a driver that helps us improve the team as well as to generate a good ambiance on the team.” He said. “If he keeps working like that, Spain soon will have it’s first superdriver of the history. However, he is still young, he is only 21 years old and he does not need any extra pressure.”
Briatore was asked whatever Alonso’s economic conditions will be improved after his good results this season:
“Contracts are contracts and they are there to be respected. Renault has given him the prize of having the chance to drive a good car” Briatore added. “We are not planning at the present time to extend his contract. We are happy as we are. His future is more blue (the colours of Renault's title sponsor) than the sky above.”
The talk on the paddock is that Ferrari could be interested in the young Spaniard though Briatore is confident to retain Alonso:
“Ferrari has not talked to me about their interest with Alonso. Besides, I do not want to talk again about Ferrari. If they really want Alonso, before talking to the press, they should talk with me. Fernando is not for sale. We are growing as a team around him and Jarno.”