Renault are considering taking legal action against McLaren if they are cleared of spying charges in Monaco today.

Speaking to British newspaper The Daily Express, (Flavio) Briatore said: “A lot of very bad things have been said about us by McLaren in the last few weeks, very damaging.

“We will be cleared and once the verdict is announced we will consider legal action. Our reputation has been defamed.”

Meanwhile, McLaren have denied that they have opened talks with Fernando Alonso, who left the team last month.

A number of rookie F1 drivers have been in action at Jerez this week, including Nico Hülkenberg at Williams and Marko Asmer and Javi Villa at BMW Sauber. Villa has denied that he will become BMW’s 2008 test driver.

“I can’t become their test driver because I will be racing in GP2 next season. It wouldn’t fit in to do both. If I would be the team’s fourth driver perhaps it would be possible. I could take part in a few test sessions and would not be on duty during the Fridays in a GP weekend. I want to stay focussed on my GP2 season for now.”

Meanwhile Willi Weber was enthusiastic about the prospects of protégé Hülkenberg.

“At Williams, Nico can shine much better than at a big team like Ferrari,” Weber told Auto Motor und Sport.

“Look at Rosberg. He has made a great name for himself with Williams, and now everyone says he would go very fast in a Ferrari,” he insisted.

Force India are testing a whole contingent of drivers, including Christian Klien, Giancarlo Fisichella and Ralf Schumacher.