Briatore advises Monza to pay Ecclestone's price

Flavio Briatore has warned organisers of the Italian grand prix not to play hardball with Bernie Ecclestone.

As negotiations over a new deal for Monza drag on, regional Lombardy president Roberto Maroni warned last week that "There can be no formula one without Monza".

"I think Maroni's right," Briatore told RAI. "That the Italian grand prix remaining at Monza is 90 per cent, as long as the ACI (Italian automobile club) pays Ecclestone's price."

"There is still an important difference," the Italian, a long-time friend and business partner of Ecclestone's, added. "Bernie is not interested in who pays him, but that he is paid."