Alonso cautious on Renault's chances

Renault only finished on the podium once this year and, although Alonso is hoping his return to the French car manufacturer can help them rediscover the form that helped them to titles in 2005 and 2006, he is well aware that things will not be so straightforward.

Speaking about his prediction for 2008, Alonso said: "This is a question we all ask and I believe nobody can answer for certain. You know that teams like Ferrari will always be favourites.

"Also, the teams who have had problems adjusting to the Bridgestone tyres will hopefully have solved their problems and will be back at the top.

"Maybe Renault can be part of the top teams again this season. Today's challenge is for Renault to go back to the top of the sheet already in January or February and then come closer to the podiums next season. They have suffered more than enough this year."

Alonso believes that he will have more of an idea of Renault's potential following early tests of the R28 in January.

"We will see what can be done... We shouldn't put the cart before the horse," he said. "The first thing to do is to put the R28 on track in January and then start working thoroughly in order to get to the first Grand Prix of the season with the best car possible.

"I had to rise to the same challenge last year during the winter season and I am confident that this can happen again. After that, I will have to have a perfect season and hope for the others not to be too quick."

Alonso also made it clear that taking a sabbatical in 2008 was never an option for him, even though there were no guarantees he would find a race drive.

"Well, it would have never come to me not having a drive for next season," he said. "Sure it was not like I had to choose between a grey pair of trousers and a black one. We are talking about a very important decision and since I could not get back at the wheel of a car until January or February, there was no rush.

"I understand why people were so eager. The fans have always been the ones to support me. I still remember how much people have been there for me this year and how much it touched me.

"Maybe I never saw what they really were told, because there was some sort of competition between the newspapers as to which one of them would print the news first. Too much has been invented."