Renault cut Alonso payment

The cut to Fernando Alonso's 2009 retainer represents more than a third of his originally contracted pay, one newspaper has reported.

Renault team boss Flavio Briatore on Tuesday revealed that the Spanish driver, and his team-mate Nelson Piquet, agreed to reduce their salaries in reaction to the global recession.

The Milan magazine Chi said the Italian did not mention figures, but the British newspaper Daily Mail claims that 27-year-old Alonso's reduction was from about 13m (euro) in the original contract, to just over 8.5m.

The newspaper did not say how much Piquet was due to earn this season, but it is claimed the 23-year-old was one of the sport's lowest earners who will now be paid just 270,000 (euro).