Fernando's problem was with the team, not Lewis, Italian asserts.

Flavio Briatore is adamant there will be no repetition of the feud between ex McLaren-Mercedes team-mates Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton in Formula 1 this year - despite the fact the duo ended the 2007 campaign barely still on speaking terms.

The pair endured a fractious relationship at the Woking-based outfit in 2007, punctuated by well-publicised fall-outs and accusations from the former that he was not receiving equal opportunities within the team. Alonso subsequently left McLaren two years before his three-year contract was due for renewal, returning to Renault, the squad with which he claimed both his drivers' world championship crowns.

"He [Alonso] gets bad publicity in England because last year he was fighting with Lewis Hamilton," the Régie's MD Briatore told The Times, "but it is always like this in England.

"There will be no problems between Fernando and Lewis this season because they are very intelligent."

Indeed, rather than pointing the finger at Hamilton - the rookie who took the sport by storm during his spectacular debut season in the top flight last year - Briatore blamed the style of management at McLaren. The Italian has in the past not shied away from airing his opinions about McLaren counterpart Ron Dennis.

"The problem between them was not personal animosity," Briatore underlined. "It was competition and the fact Fernando felt McLaren were not treating him the same as Hamilton.

"For Fernando it was a team problem, not a Hamilton problem."

The 57-year-old also revealed the extent of his closeness to F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. Between them the pair last August purchased London football club Queens Park Rangers.

"In the last 20 years I speak to Bernie at least five or six times a day," Briatore admitted. "We are in the same business; we travel together; he is my best friend.

"Whatever I do, Bernie is always part of it. We have a very good understanding."