Friday June 30th, 2000

Italian Giancarlo Fisichella said on Friday he expected to remain with the Benetton team next season.

"I am quite confident I'll be here (next season)," Fisichella said after free practice for Sunday's French Formula One Grand Prix. "I would like to stay because the team is getting better, especially now with Renault.

"Next year we will have a much better engine. It will be easier and Flavio (Briatore) is doing a very good job."

Briatore returned to 1995 world champions Benetton in March after French carmaker Renault took control of the troubled team from the Benetton family.

Fisichella has performed well this season, with two third places and a second in Brazil, unlike his Austrian team mate Alexander Wurz who has yet to secure his first point of the year and is not expected to stay with the team.