Giancarlo Fisichella has admitted that he needs to 'step up another level' as he prepares to lead the Renault team into the 2007 Formula One season – although the Italian believes he is more than capable of leading the regie into the post-Alonso era.

With double champion Alonso having moved on to McLaren, Fisichella will be partnered by F1 rookie Heikki Kovalainen for the new season, meaning the pressure is firmly on the Italian to fight for victories on a regular basis as Renault aims to make it a hat-trick of titles in 2007.

Although he only won once during 2006, matching his win tally from 2005 and his first season with the Renault team, Fisichella ended the season having scored 14 points more – which proved to be vital in edging Ferrari for the constructors' title.

“Fourth place in the championship is the best result of my career, and I was on the podium five times compared to three last year,” Fisichella reflected. “I won a race in Malaysia, and scored nearly 25 per cent more points than in 2005. That is a very strong rate of progress, and I intend to maintain it next year so I can fight for the championship.

“I know there have been some critical voices during the year, but the simple fact is that if in 2006, I had driven to the level I did in 2005, then we would have lost the constructors' championship. But we won this year after a very tough battle with Ferrari, and that was also because I raised my game in spite of some difficult periods. The final result was fantastic for the whole team, but I know I could have done better on some occasions too. Those are the things I want to work on this winter in preparation for 2007.”

Admitting that people will be paying close attention to his performance in 2007 as team leader, Fisichella added that he was confident in his own ability and in that of his team to fight for championship honours.

“People will be paying close attention next year, and that is normal,” he said. “It will be my third year with the team, which will allow me to be more comfortable, and more competitive. People will form opinions and make judgements on our chances, but that is their job. My focus is on what happens inside the team. Flavio has won seven world championships, and he believes in me. Pat Symonds has won seven championships, and he believes in me. The team is behind me and we work well together. Now, I need to step up another level, like I did for this year. And I believe I can do it.

“Every other big team has big changes coming up, with people who have left on the technical side, or with people leaving now. At Renault, our technical team is stable – and they have proved they can design a winning package. I already know my team-mate Heikki very well, and we have a strong relationship that will be very productive.

“Those are the things that really matter in Formula One, when you want to maintain a successful level. And they are the reasons why I am feeling very confident for 2007.”