Tuesday July 3rd, 2001

The Benetton team have denied the rumours that indicated Flavio Briatore will leave them this season to be replaced by Christian Contzen.

Italian Briatore, who returned to the struggling Benetton team last season, was rumoured to be set to be replaced by Renault Sport's managing director Contzen as the French manufacturer was thought to be unhappy with the way the 2001 season is developing.

Benetton, World Champions in 1995, have scored only one point so far this year, but have denied Briatore is to leave the team. The rumours indicated that Briatore was set to leave along with Benetton's technical director Mike Gascoyne, who joined the team at the end of the season.

Speculation suggested the Briton was holding talks with Minardi's Paul Stoddart after the Italian team was left without a technical director following the departure of Gustav Brunner to Toyota. But Gascoyne has dismissed the rumours as "rubbish".

"It's complete rubbish," Gascoyne told Autosport. "I had a chat with Paul Stoddart on the grid (in France) because I've raced his cars in the past and I've known him for years. But that was the only contact I've had. I don't know where this complete rubbish was made up."

Published at 11:31:02 GMT

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