29/07/2004
NEWS STORY
British newspaper The Guardian is claiming that Flavio Briatore, who amongst his many roles is team principal of the Renault F1 team, forced Frank Williams to choose between Mark Webber and Giancarlo Fisichella.
According to the article, Briatore, who manages Webber, wanted Fisichella to replace Jarno Trulli, but was aware that Williams wanted both Webber and the Italian.
Briatore, a man used to getting his own way, and not one whose bad books you would wish to get into, apparently made it clear to Williams that if he pursued Fisichella, he would have no hesitation in negotiating a deal with Toyota, which was also keen to acquire the services of the Australian.
Such was Briatore's desire to get Fisichella in the second Renault, he was willing (as Webber's manager) to accept a lesser deal with Toyota, simply to snub the British team.
There is still much speculation in the paddock however as to why the relationship between Trulli and the team (Briatore?), soured so quickly.
It's widely believed that up until the French Grand Prix, the re-signing of the Italian was a mere formality.