Brawn GP have already won the Formula One championship says Flavio Briatore

Briatore admits to being dejected by his own team's form as he was hoping for more than the handful of points Fernando Alonso has so far scored.

But the outspoken Italian also feels that just six grands prix into a 17-race campaign, and ahead of tomorrow's latest round in Turkey, it is a question of fighting over the scraps handed out by Brawn. "We are not happy at all," assessed Briatore.

"We were expecting a different championship and a much better performance from our car. "When we arrived in Australia we felt there was a big difference between us and the Brawns. I think everybody felt that.

"Our team approached the 2009 car from a completely different angle, although we expected to improve race by race, if at all possible. "But me the championship is finished already. Brawn is very, very difficult to beat for anybody. "Maybe Red Bull have a good chance of finishing second, with everybody else fighting for third and fourth place. This is the honest situation.

"But we never give up. We try to improve the car, but everybody is improving at the same time. This is the situation where we are." For Renault driver Nelson Piquet, there has only been a series of disappointments so far that have left the Brazilian point-less. The rumour is Piquet will be replaced after the Hungarian Grand Prix unless there is a dramatic improvement in form. Piquet, though, insists he can cope with the pressure, aware there are a number of drivers out there eager to take his place. "I have been through a lot of tough moments the last two years," said Piquet.

"I have a hard team, a hard boss and a hard team-mate which is going to help me a lot in the future. "I admit it has been a difficult season, I know that. I didn't imagine coming to the seventh race without any points. But criticism is going to be around my whole life, so it's nothing that bothers me; it won't make me go quicker or slower. "I know there are plenty of other drivers hitting the door wanting to come in, so it's normal for a team to put pressure on a driver – but then I put the pressure on myself, although this is not enjoyable right now.

"Formula One is enjoyable when you win races, when you are at the front like Jenson is this year. "I am sure my day will arrive when I get more comfortable, get more experience and Renault progress into a better shape or I get into a car that is quicker." Despite an uncertain future, not only for himself but the sport in light of the budget cap furore, Piquet has every intention of staying. "F1 is a whole different world. Even with a budget cap for the teams, it's going to be a different level," he added. "Maybe a few teams are going to drop out next season, but I still think the major teams are going to be here and it's still going to be the same Formula One chaos. "I obviously want to be a part of it. It's the top of motorsport and there's nothing else tougher than this. "It's what I fought my whole life for to get here, and winning races must be the most amazing feeling ever. I want that."