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Double Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso battled hard to finish inside the points in eighth position in the Bahrain Grand Prix at the weekend - and, due to a drink pump failure meaning he had been deprived of water throughout, subsequently came close to collapsing from dehydration after st

Fernando Alonso has rubbished suggestions that he is set for another tough season in Formula 1 with Renault in 2009 following the poor initial testing pace of the new R29, urging that 'the cars in Jerez are not going to be the ones in Australia'.

Fernando Alonso has insisted that he and Renault will be fully capable of battling to reclaim their Formula 1 World Championship crowns in 2009 - even if he acknowledges that 'so many factors' will determine the performance of the new R29.

Following on from his Singapore triumph, Fernando Alonso sent out a clear message that former Formula 1 World Champions Renault are back with a bang in the top flight, by storming to a sensational second consecutive success in the Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji.

Despite a hugely impressive GP2 Series campaign, Renault test driver Lucas di Grassi has admitted that his only chance of graduating to a Formula 1 race seat with the R?gie next year is if Nelsinho Piquet is no longer there.

To come away from a qualifying session that had promised to deliver so much with just 15th and 16th positions was agonising for Renault in Singapore this weekend - particularly with pole position tip Fernando Alonso predicting it will now take 'a miracle' to regain ground on race day in the Far E

Nelsinho Piquet has been lauded by his Renault team after producing the drive of his fledgling Formula 1 career to finish up on the podium in the German Grand Prix - from all the way down in 17th spot on the starting grid.