Flavio Briatore hopes Alonso 'returns to the podium'

Former F1 team owner Flavio Briatore has insisted that he hopes Fernando Alonso can 'return to the podium' in the 2018 campaign following a few years bereft of success during McLaren's ill-fated period using unreliable Honda engines, with Renault providing the parts from now on.

Alonso is still considered to be one of the most talented drivers on the circuit despite it being over a decade since he claimed the second of his world championship victories.

He is planning on expanding his driving experience by venturing into other disciplines, and has recently expressed a desire to win motor sport's triple crown, which includes wins at the Monaco Grand Prix, Le Mans, and the Indianapolis 500.

However, Formula One remains his main commitment, and Briatore hopes he can get some glory back now that McLaren have switched over to Renault engines instead of their unreliable Honda parts.

"Fernando's extra time at McLaren is testament to his great loyalty to the team," the Italian told France's Auto Hebdo.

"Fernando never expected to encounter so many reliability problems with the Honda engine. For three years, the team also suffered from a lack of performance, but Fernando has decided to stay. He knows the Renault people very well and what to expect from the engine. I hope he can return to the podium this year,"

Briatore was one of the brokers of Alonso's move to McLaren, and has praised the Spaniard for staying loyal to the team despite the engine struggles.

Alonso recently made his testing debut for endurance racing at the Daytona Circuit in the United States.