Alonso dedicates podium finish to disgraced Briatore

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso dedicated his third-place finish at the Singapore Grand Prix to former Renault team principal Flavio Briatore.

Briatore has been handed an indefinite ban from all involvement in international motorsport for his part in the 2008 Singapore race-fixing scandal.

The team had been keen to put the incident behind them with a good performance this weekend and they got that as Alonso secured a return to the podium for the first time this year.

The Spaniard, who won at the inaugural night race in Singapore last year, hailed his team for their efforts in getting his car competitive, but reserved special praise for his former boss.

"The team has been fantastic," said Alonso.

"All season, we have had a fantastic team. The mechanics and engineers, everyone in the factory, did the maximum, and sometimes we got some good results and sometimes were a bit unlucky.

"It has been a difficult time for the team, now we put it behind us and we concentrate on the remaining races.

"I dedicate this podium to Flavio. He is at home but he is part of the success we had today."

Bob Bell, who has replaced Briatore as acting team principal for the remainder of the season, hopes Alonso's success will give the team the strength to go into the remaining three races full of confidence that they can compete at the front of the grid.

"Today was absolutely fantastic," he said. "It's wonderful to get a podium at any time but to get one after what the team has just been through is really positive and gives us great strength to move on now.

"Everybody in the team will now go to the final three races very buoyed by this result because it shows that the team can fight for the podium."

But despite the result, Alonso's future at Renault remains very much in doubt as he refused to commit himself to the team, although confirmed he has made a decision on who he will drive for next season.

"This podium doesn't change anything," he said. "I have made a decision already. Soon we will know."