The defection to McLaren of back to back world champion Fernando Alonso contained a hidden benefit for Renault, according to team boss Flavio Briatore.
The Italian on Wednesday admitted that the loss of his former protege and double world champion is a blow, but he insisted that the situation has motivated Renault workers to prove they can succeed without the 25-year-old Spaniard on board.
“Everybody wants to stay,” Briatore told reporters in Amsterdam, where the newly-liveried R27 was unveiled officially to the press.
“Being world champion, everybody targets you (for your staff). From Red Bull to Ferrari and McLaren — I promise you, so many of our engineers were approached by the competition.”
GMMF1
DailyF1News.com
