Alonso Targets Title Fight
Malaysian Grand Prix winner Fernando Alonso said he will have his best ever shot at winning the world title this year after Renault continued their dominant start to the season in Sepang on Sunday
Alonso started from pole position and eased his way to victory despite the lack of a functional drinks bottle leaving him exhausted inside the cockpit of his Renault machine.
He became the first Spanish driver to reach the top of the World Championship table when he added 10 point to the six he earned in Australia and he believes the team can continue their challenge throughout the season.
"It is only the second race and we can not say anything yet," he said. "But what I can say is that I am in the best position I have been in my career to win the Championship.
"In 2003 we were competitive in some places and some not and in 2004 we were competitive at the beginning and at the end we lost the Championship and it seems that this year we are the best at the moment in these two races.
"The team is programmed to do quite good steps soon in the car and develop the car every two races more or less and if we keep like this for sure I can have a chance.
"It is a fantastic feeling not just to be the first Spanish, but only to be the first in the Championship, I think to lead the World Championship in Formula One is a dream for any young driver.
"I reached this at just 23 years of age and I now only need to finish in this position in the Championship. I don't know where or when but I hope as soon as possible to fight for the Championship."
Alonso knows that it will not come easy, however, and he is sure that Ferrari will fight back from their disastrous start to the season to become a contender again when their new F2005 machine hits the racetrack.
"It will be more difficult for us because we are starting in a very strong position but we saw this weekend that Toyota, Williams and always McLaren and Ferrari are all very strong," said Alonso. "The competition is tough now. I think Ferrari and Michael will be stronger opponent for everybody when they sort out the problems they have now maybe we will have more problems.
"We will see (bad) races so we need to take care of our car and our pace and performance and, in these days while Ferrari are not so strong, we need to take the first position and the points."
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