More pressure on Hamilton - Briatore
Renault boss Flavio Briatore has tipped his former driver Fernando Alonso to beat McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton to the Formula One drivers’ title, claiming the Briton is under more pressure.
Hamilton faces an all-or-nothing showdown with rival Alonso and Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen in this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos.
And Briatore believes the 22-year-old rookie, who currently leads Alonso by four points, will feel the heat more than the defending champion.
“This is the big pressure moment for all three drivers and the guy at the front has the most pressure of all,” the Italian told the Daily Mirror.
“For me the favourite is still Fernando. He has the experience, he has been here before and he has always been fast in Brazil, which is a difficult and unusual circuit.”
After a season marred by infighting at McLaren, Alonso is widely expected to find new employment next season.
And Briatore admits he would welcome the Spaniard’s return.
“If he is not contracted to another team we would be happy to have him back at Renault.”
Meanwhile Spanish Motorsport Federation president Carlos Gracia has denied making accusations of racism in England in relation to Hamilton’s title charge.
Gracia claims he was misquoted in Spanish daily El Publico as saying: “It is perfectly normal for a British team and British fans wanting to succeed in F1, but it is ironic that the racists in England are having to rely on a coloured pilot.”
