Briatore confirms Alonso to Minardi rumour.
Benetton boss Flavio Briatore used the team's official 2001 launch to pre-empt Paul Stoddart's second Minardi announcement.
The ex-pat Aussie had been expected to unveil Spaniard Fernando Alonso as his first signing for the rejuvenated Minardi team this week, but was beaten to the punch by the flamboyant Briatore, who spilt the beans just prior to the wraps coming off Benetton's B201 in Venice.
Benetton boss Flavio Briatore used the team's official 2001 launch to pre-empt Paul Stoddart's second Minardi announcement.
The ex-pat Aussie had been expected to unveil Spaniard Fernando Alonso as his first signing for the rejuvenated Minardi team this week, but was beaten to the punch by the flamboyant Briatore, who spilt the beans just prior to the wraps coming off Benetton's B201 in Venice.
A former Minardi tester and F3000 race winner, Alonso was 'sold' to Briatore over the winter in an effort to help the tiny Italian team dig itself out of the mire caused by the loss of both sponsorship and take-over deals. The suspicion, however, was that Briatore and Renault, which, it now appears, holds Alonso's reins, would always loan their protege back to Minardi in order for him to gain F1 experience.
The Spaniard tested with Benetton prior to Christmas in order to gain enough miles to qualify for a superlicence, and will now be unveiled as the Minardi team's first driver since Stoddart rescued it from likely closure last week.
