Alonso Confident Renault can Keep Pace

Alonso found out first hand last season how a lack of development can lead a team to slip down the order, when Renault steadily lost ground over the second half of the year.

But with the French manufacturer having subsequently admitted that they abandoned work on their 2004 contender early so they could concentrate entirely on their 2005 challenger, Alonso is adamant that progress will be maintained for the rest of the season.

"I am not worried about it all - but like with many things, we have to wait and see what happens," said Alonso, who extended his advantage over Kimi Raikkonen in the title chase to 26 points at the British Grand Prix.

"We know that we did not have fantastic performance in the last part of 2004, but I think we have learned the lesson and know the reasons. I know that the team is well prepared and working very hard on all the developments. We were very competitive at the last two races, and I believe we can do the job."

With Alonso now having led the Championship since the second race of the season, he admits to lose out in the battle now would be hard to take.

"Mathematically, I know I will lead the Championship even after the next two races, so to lose the position at the end of the year after leading for a long time would be difficult," he admitted.

"But when you think back to the start of the year, nobody thought we would be in this position - and even to be second this year, at 23 years old, would be a big, big achievement.

"In reality though, the feeling would really depend on how things happened: if you lose the Championship because of retirements, then that would be very difficult; if it was because our competitors did a better job, then there is nothing you can do. That is how it happens in sport."