Briatore: Renault needs total overhaul, including drivers

Renault announced last week that it is planning to resurrect a works outfit for 2016, as it closes on a takeover of the Lotus outfit.

And its former boss Briatore thinks talks of a three-year plan for the team to be successful is too cautious, as he reckons F1 is in need of the team winning sooner than that.

“Three years is a lot of time,” said Briatore in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport. “F1 is on the edge, and it needs a strong Renault before the end of three years.

“It's also true that Renault must rebuild everything, including the technical team. Enstone lost some great engineers, and Viry Chatillon also. It will be not easy".

Regarding the drivers, with Pastor Maldonado and Jolyon Palmer contracted for next year, Briatore also reckons Renault will need a different line-up.

But, for now, he has ruled out a switch for Fernando Alonso, who achieved his two world titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006.

“If you want to win, you must change the drivers as well,” he said. “Fernando in Renault for a third time? No, not at this moment. He's got a contract with Honda."

Mercedes still dominant

Briatore also suspects that Mercedes' domination of F1 will continue in the short term, with Ferrari unable to make the leap necessary to knock the German manufacturer off the top.

"Mercedes got a great advantage and I think next year will be the same story, with Mercedes in pole and Ferrari pursuer,” he said. “I don't think that Ferrari will close the gap to Mercedes.”