Briatore: It will be a tough year for McLaren

[davewilson]

With many anticipating the impending battle between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, double world champion versus the most promising rookie, at the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team in the 2007 championship season, Alonso’s former boss, Flavio Briatore, has predicted that the resurgence that the Woking based squad are hoping to enjoy won’t materialize, instead they will have a somewhat difficult year.

 

"It will be a tough year for them, I see a few problems," he told the Gazzetta dello Sport. "They have always had fantastic drivers, such as Raikkonen, and they always announce them early to demonstrate they're changing, but this year the book of excuses has come to the final page."

 

Alonso’s move to McLaren was announced over twelve months ago while Lewis’ appointment was only confirmed last month, despite it being one of the worst kept secrets in the paddock. The two drivers, said to be in a class of their own, are expected to return the team to their winning ways, something they lost in 2006 with their first winless season in a decade.

The Stig