Flavio Briatore has admitted that he is to leave his post at the head of Renault's Formula 1 operation at the end of the 2010 campaign.

The revelation came after Briatore was asked about whether he would ever switch teams to work for Ferrari, to which he responded by telling international news agency Reuters: “I like to beat Ferrari but when my team doesn't win, being Italian, I obviously support Ferrari.

“I don't think I will go to work at Maranello, though, especially as in two years I will stop.”

Question marks have been raised in recent years about Briatore's health, and as he will turn 60 in 2010, it is perhaps not a huge surprise that he has announced his intention to call it quits. He also professed himself enthusiastic about the sport's recent landmark resolution to dramatically cut costs [see separate story – click here].

“The new rules will make Formula 1 more exciting and human,” he underlined. “I agree that the constructors, in order to try to avoid the crisis, have given a good example by trying new ideas.”