Alonso says podiums not realistic

"We are very far, very far," Alonso was quoted as saying by AS newspaper. "I think it's looking like at the end of last year: two Ferraris, two McLarens and two BMWs, and if everything goes like that, you can almost only fight for seventh place.

"Thinking about the podium would be too optimistic right now, but then you arrive in the first grand prix, you start warming up in practice, your morale starts going up and you think you can be on the podium.

"But right now, thinking coldly, reaching the podium is a dream.

"In our current shape it will be hard to make it into Q3," added the Spaniard.

Alonso is returning to the French team after a season at McLaren.

Renault, world champions in 2005 and 2006, struggled for pace last year, failing to win a race or score a pole position.

Alonso believes Ferrari are still one of the main contenders for this year's titles, but they Spaniard reckons the Italian squad are not so far ahead of their rivals as some suggest.

"Ferrari is one of the favourites but they are not on another planet. I think (the championship) is going to be close," he said.

The two-time champion also admitted he has been surprised by BMW's strong form, despite the German team's early problems with their new car.

"They are very fast with a lot of fuel," Alonso said. "Sometimes you look at their times, and you see what they've done in stints of 25 or 30 laps. That is, with 60 or 70 kilos of fuel. They have surprised me the most in the last two or three tests."