Italian Giancarlo Fisichella has been warned by his future Renault team boss that the next two years will be make or break for his Formula One career.
"You see a lot of drivers with fantastic talent -- Jean Alesi was like that -- but they never develop it," compatriot Flavio Briatore said in an interview with Britain's Autosport magazine on Thursday.
"Well, I think Fisichella still has the chance to do that and I think he understands he must, because it's the last ditch for him, isn't it?
"If he misses this train, in three years nobody will remember him -- because he's done nothing. Absolutely nothing.
"He has two years to make sure people remember Fisichella in F1 -- if not, he's history."
Fisichella, 31, has driven for Briatore before, spending four years at Benetton/Renault before leaving for Jordan at the end of 2001.
The
French favourite Alesi, who also drove for Briatore at Benetton in 1996 and 1997, ended his career in 2001 with just one victory from 201 races.
Briatore also told the magazine that his ideal line-up for next season would have been Australian Mark Webber, who is joining Williams from Jaguar, alongside Spaniard Fernando Alonso.
The Italian manages both Webber and Alonso.