Flavio Briatore says Fernando Alonso has one-in-five chance to win the 2008 F1 world championship...

Whatever that means.

With merely DAYS before the 2008 F1 season kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Renault big boss Flavio Briatore says Fernando Alonso only has one-in-five chance of winning it all this season. Yes, they're probably throwing in the towel already.

Flavio even told the media that he's not as optimistic as his returning Spanish driver, Fernando Alonso, of winning this year's title. Hmm... A little dissension within the team already perhaps? Uh oh...

''Fernando is talking about us having a 30 percent chance for the Championship,'' Flavio Briatore said. ''I think it's about 20 percent, which means he is more optimistic than me.''

''We can't recover everything in three months but we hope to be fighting and winning races by the middle of the season.''

Flavio Briatore agrees with Fernando Alonso that the new R28 Renault will be using this season is not fast enough to challenge the Ferraris and the McLarens yet. But both of them will still be hoping for the best.

Whatever that means.

''Yes, it (the car) is too slow for him (Alonso),'' Briatore said. ''But we are working hard and Fernando is not the type who pushes in the tests. He is more concerned in understanding the car and giving information to the engineer. Fernando tells you exactly the quality of your car.''

''We are a little delayed but last year was difficult because in 2006, with Fernando, we were fighting for the title up to the last race with Ferrari,'' Briatore added.

''We won it but, in the process, we neglected the development of the new car.''

Who will win the 2008 F1 Drivers Championship? Bodog Sportsbook has the odds.

Kimi Raikkonen 2.75

Lewis Hamilton 3.00

Fernando Alonso 7.00

Felipe Massa 7.00

Want more odds? Visit Bodog for more F1 betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today's biggest sporting events.

2008 F1 Season F1 Australian Grand Prix