London, Oct 25 : Flavio Briatore is now ready to put his money on Lewis Hamilton to win this year’s Formula One title - just a week after writing off his chances.

The Renault boss played down Hamilton’s chances ahead of last week’s Chinese Grand Prix, but the McLaren ace stormed to victory to leave himself on the brink of becoming F1’s youngest world champion.

Briatore claimed the fact that Hamilton let a 17-pointlead slip away last season with two races remaining was “worthy of the Guinness Book of Records.”

But after watching Hamilton’s imperious performance in Shanghai, Briatore is now ready to concede the Briton has learned from the error of his ways.

“What I said was quite simple, that it is difficult when you have pressure like he has had,” The Sun quoted Briatore, as saying.

“Last year he lost 17 points in two races and sometimes it is the second, third or fourth place that is the target. That was my opinion. It is not possible to win all the time. Sometimes, when you are fighting for the Championship, it is good to finish second, third, or even fifth,” he added. (ANI)