Aug.3 (GMM) Flavio Briatore on Friday made it clear that he has not chosen a side in the Ferrari versus McLaren espionage scandal.



Having said earlier today in Hungary that spying teams should be penalised, the Renault boss did not then defend Ferrari from McLaren's accusation that it won the Australian grand prix with an illegal F2007 car.



A statement issued by Ferrari at the Hungaroring said McLaren's accusation was "both serious and false".



McLaren claims Ferrari was only compelled to change its Melbourne-spec car after 'whistleblower' Nigel Stepney alerted the Woking based team to the F2007's allegedly illegal floor.



Briatore told a news conference on Friday: "I think the floor changed after the (Melbourne) race. Looked like it was not right in the first place."



The Italian chief, meanwhile, refused to be drawn on Renault racer Giancarlo Fisichella's claim in Hungary that he is "expecting" to be offered a new contract for 2008.



"Today I don't know," Briatore said.



"At this moment I am thinking and I believe I will decide in September around Monza time, I don't want to decide before."