OCTOBER 25, 2000

Briatore looks forward to Button and Fisichella partnership

BENETTON team chairman Flavio Briatore is already excited by the prospective driving partnership for his team next season, when Jenson Button will join Giancarlo Fisichella.

Briatore hopes Button's arrival, combined with a new engine and chassis for 2001, will boost the team before they are re-named as Renault for the 2002 season.

"We are looking forward to Jenson and Giancarlo next year," said Briatore. "We are also working very hard with the new engine and chassis.

"Next year we are going to do everything possible to be as good as we can. Our aims are targeted at 2002, but to be good in 2002, we need to be good in 2001."

Briatore also expressed his delight at securing fourth place in the constructors' championship, despite an indifferent season that started well but ended limply with the team failing to score a point in the last three races.

He added: "Fourth was our goal and our target and I am very pleased to make it. It was important for the morale of the team that we get a better garage for next year.

"We didn't expect to be here at the beginning of the year, as we had Jordan in front of us who were stronger. But we got ahead of them and the whole team is very happy."