by Russell Atkins
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Renault star
Fernando Alonso has refused to rule out a return to the top step of the podium with the French outfit in 2008, though he acknowledged the fact that much work would need to be done if the
Régie is to take the fight to
McLaren and
Ferrari on a regular basis again.
The Spaniard claimed both of his two world drivers' championship crowns with Renault in 2005 and 2006, and managing director Flavio Briatore – with whom Alonso formed a strong bond during his first stint with the team from 2003 to 2006 – has described his return as like a homecoming. Having narrowly missed out on a third successive title at the end of a fractious and controversial season with McLaren last year, he is simply happy, he says, to be back in a comfortable environment once more.
“I think it's difficult to say [I've come] ‘home' home,” Alonso mused, speaking exclusively to
Crash.net Radio. “As a racing driver you are always changing teams and are never committed to one manufacturer for your life, but it's true that out of the possibilities that I had last year Renault was very clearly the best option for me. I know everybody; I don't need any time to settle in or be comfortable. I feel ready to work straightaway and I'm happy.”
That was patently not the case in 2007, when the 26-year-old fell out publicly with both McLaren boss Ron Dennis and team-mate
Lewis Hamilton, who he believed was getting superior treatment to him within the squad. He envisages no such repeat this time around, when he will be partnered by another rookie in the shape of
Nelsinho Piquet, son of three-time former world champion Nelson Piquet and runner-up to Hamilton in GP2 in 2006.
“Before the launch we'd only worked together for one or two days,” Alonso admitted, “because we were running with only one car in the test [at Valencia]. He seems a very normal guy though, so everything will be good.”
