Apr.5 (GMM) Flavio Briatore is confident that Fernando Alonso will be in contention for a podium finish at his home grand prix in Spain later this month.



The Renault boss spoke after Alonso told the Spanish press in Bahrain that the performance of the R28 single seater here looks set to be "worse" than in Malaysia, where he finished just eighth.



Alonso, 26, also said that breaking into Q2 on Saturday might prove difficult.



"At the Barcelona test we will make a giant leap forwards," Briatore told Spanish reporters on Friday.



The Italian said he was very confident about Spain because his technicians plan to introduce changes to the car "that other teams are already using".



"I am sure that we will be fighting to be on the podium in Barcelona," he added.



Briatore refused to entertain speculation that Alonso is already planning his move for 2009 to the Ferrari team.



"We will try to keep him at our team and give him a competitive car. At the end of the year we will see what is going to happen," he said.



"At the moment we do not have any problems like this. This is the third race of the season," said Briatore, but he acknowledged that no F1 contracts are "bullet-proof".



Asked how much he would bet that Alonso is still racing a Renault in twelve months, Briatore laughed: "I never gamble money."