Frequently a critic of the way Formula One portrays itself to the fans, Renault boss Flavio Briatore has admitted that the sport is in good health at the moment - and promises more of the same in 2007.

Speaking to Renault F1's official website, the flamboyant Italian said that he was happy to see the back of the internal bickering that threatened to pull the sport apart and, with several key moves taking place over the winter, hinted that F1 2007 could be as exciting - if not more exciting - than this year.

"F1 It is very healthy at the moment," he insisted, "In structural terms, the teams have made long-term commitments, and we have rules that will help reduce the costs and improve the show. But, most importantly, we have given the public a fantastic show in 2006 – and there is the promise of the same thing next year.

"We had incredible interest at the end of the championship, and people will be tuning in next year to follow the story again. We have a new generation of drivers, people moving teams - all the cards have been shuffled. That will make things unpredictable and exciting, which is exactly what the sport needs."

Despite losing double world champion to McLaren, Briatore is equally insistent that Renault can continue to be a force, pointing to the strength of the teams at Enstone and Viry-Chatillon as the key to a third title push.

"We will not be the same team next year without Fernando, but we are looking forward to the challenge," he said, "The driver is one element of the package and, out of the top three teams in F1, we are the only one that goes into next year with a stable technical structure, and that is what brings success in F1. The management is stable, and we have the investment we need to do the job. People criticised our vision before, and they will do it again, but we know the path we are on – and we are confident it is the right one.

"[The secret of success] was written on the side of the car - team spirit. We are not the team with the biggest budget; we do not pay the highest salaries; and we do not have superstars at any level, [but] we work as a team from start to finish. People talk openly and directly, they demand the very highest standards, and they have the competitive fire to come out on top.

"The best illustration came this summer, when we had to face a number of difficult challenges. They knuckled down, and the team fought back. A lot of credit must go to Rob White and his engine team in Viry. They designed a brand new V8, waited to run it on the track, and it won its first race. Even late in the year, when we had problems, they were still pushing back the limits on performance and reliability. They did an incredible job, just like the team in Enstone, who pushed the boundaries back in every area.

"This was a very tough season, much harder than 2005. We were fighting against the might of Ferrari and giving absolutely everything to that fight. That was a very stressful situation for everybody. But it was an honour to beat Ferrari - and especially because so many people seemed to think they had already won at certain points of the year. We did it, and the challenges we overcame only make that victory even sweeter. I am very proud to be part of a team like this."