Alonso: Impossible to have friends in F1.

Fernando Alonso has claimed former team-mate Lewis Hamilton will be stronger this year for the experience of his maiden Formula 1 season in 2007, but he tipped Ferrari star Kimi Raikkonen to be the man who lifts the laurels once more.

Alonso and Hamilton lived through an uneasy relationship at McLaren-Mercedes, following which the Spaniard departed Woking to return to Renault, with whom he won both his world championship crowns in 2005 and 2006.

The pair emerged victorious in four grands prix apiece last year and finished equal on points at the end of the campaign - both a sole point shy of Raikkonen after their internecine rivalry came close to tearing the team apart - and, contrary to the opinions of such as Sir Jackie Stewart and Bernie Ecclestone [see separate story - click here], Alonso suggested Hamilton would find things easier second time around.

"After one year's experience things become easier and that will give him an advantage," the 26-year-old explained in an interview with BBC Radio Five Live. "After a year, you know all the circuits and how the races go.

"You understand the pressures too, so there are many things that will give him an advantage compared to last year."

When asked if the Briton could win the world title, Alonso added: "Possibly, yes."

The man from Oviedo tempered his remarks, however, by underlining his conviction that Raikkonen would enter the season as favourite, having gone into the last grand prix of 2007 as very much the underdog and emerged with all the glory.

"The two Ferraris and two McLarens will be able to fight for the championship," he went on, "but if I have to name one then [it would be] Ferrari and Kimi, because he is the world champion and will be the driver to beat.

"At the end of last year Kimi had some very good final races, and was also lucky, to be world champion [after] being so far behind. He has the self-confidence and he is obviously very quick [though], so he has put himself in a very strong position."

As to his own team Renault's chances over the forthcoming eight months, Alonso remained rather more circumspect, following mixed form in pre-season testing and persistent assertions that the R?gie is still some way off the leading pace. Last year Renault finished third in the constructors' world championship (fourth prior to McLaren's disqualification over the spying row), but failed to win even a single race. He also stressed he remained on good terms with his former team, even if he had no regrets about having left.

"I was lucky to have a competitive car again," the man nicknamed El Nano in his home country acknowledged of the 2007 campaign, "and to be able to fight until the last race. I've still got good friends and a good relationship with the team; you build up good relationships with your engineers and mechanics.

"It will be difficult to repeat the successes we had [at Renault in 2005 and 2006], and it will of course be frustrating not to lead the table, but I will do my best and I know the team will do their best to produce good cars so we will see.

"The new R28 car is a step forward but we are still not at the level to win races, so we need more time and some clever ideas. We will set new targets for each grand prix; maybe it [won't be] a victory, but first it will be the top five, then the podium and then we'll see. There will always be some motivation."

Interestingly, Alonso added that he would welcome the return of former world championship rival Michael Schumacher to the top flight, after testing alongside the seven-time title-winner at Barcelona at the start of this week.

"The fans would love it and it would increase the attention on F1," he reasoned, "so it would be good for the sport. It would be an interesting championship again as he would be one of the maximum contenders, but I don't know if he wants to come back."

He also pointed out, however, that he did not really consider himself friends with any of the other drivers - something that will surprise few given his fractious relationship with Hamilton last year, for which he received a barrage of negative publicity in the British media.

"Maybe that's not the right word," the sport's youngest-ever world champion replied to the question of whether he is friends with his ex team-mate now. "I don't think there are many friends in Formula 1 between the drivers.

"We have a lot of respect for everyone. Sometimes we say hello, we shake hands, we talk about races when we meet, but we don't go out to dinner or the cinema with anyone; not with Kimi, not with Massa, not even [Renault team-mate Nelsinho] Piquet. I think outside of F1 we are quite close to our families."