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 Monday 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 earlier this week 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.