Motorsport: Ecclestone steps into Alonso row

MILAN - Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has defended Renault team head Flavio Briatore, saying he had been sidelined in manoeuvrings over world champion Fernando Alonso's shock move to McLaren for 2007.

McLaren's surprise announcement on Tuesday that Alonso had agreed to join them prompted speculation that Briatore had negotiated the lucrative departure of Renault's top driver to their main rival.

But Ecclestone was quoted by Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport as saying McLaren boss Ron Dennis and Alonso had kept Briatore in the dark.

"In this case Alonso dealt with Dennis, avoiding Briatore. I know what happened, I can't tell the details," he told the newspaper.

Briatore himself has also denied being involved in the deal.

Less than three months ago, Alonso became Formula One's youngest world champion at the age of 24, and his sudden move has raised questions over the future of Renault's team.

Ecclestone described Dennis as a bitter rival of Briatore, and said he had deliberately kept the Renault boss in the dark.

"In this case, a rare case, Briatore was left out of the game, prevented from intervening, because Alonso didn't want to stay at Renault," he said.

- REUTERS