Renault extend Briatore's contract

Renault have extended Flavio Briatore's contract as boss of their Formula One team to the end of 2006.

"We are extremely pleased with the work the team has done, and the results it has achieved, under Flavio Briatore's management," Renault F1 team president Patrick Faure said in a statement at the San Marino Grand Prix on Saturday.

"This decision has been taken with the full agreement of our future CEO, Carlos Ghosn, who wishes to maintain the stability of a winning team."

Renault have won the first three races of the season with Italian Giancarlo Fisichella in Australia and Spaniard Fernando Alonso in Malaysia and Bahrain.

They lead the championship with 36 points to Toyota's 25.

Italian Briatore, a flamboyant character with a playboy lifestyle, won world championships with Michael Schumacher at Benetton in 1994 and 1995.