F1 to enjoy great season, says Mansell

That is the view of former World Champion Nigel Mansell, who claims that the sport is finally back heading in the right direction with the return of tyre changes, the switch to 2.4-litre V8 engines and the ditching of single-lap qualifying.

"I think 2006 should be the best season in recent years by a long way," said Mansell at a sponsorship function with car parts company Unipart, which is backing his sons in Formula BMW this year.

"There are new regulations that are going down the right route now. Having 200bhp less is sensible and the new qualifying system, although I don't know why they don't throw it open to have a level playing field for everybody instead of 15 minutes, 15 minutes and 20 minutes, is a zillion times better than one lap.

"I also think a lot of cars and engine manufacturers will be closer this year and it should be an exciting year...and I hope it is.

"F1 will be put back as it always should be...the pinnacle of motorsport. It is about time. Getting away from the one-tyre rule, the one lap qualifying and everything else. It has got to be good news."

Mansell has tipped former adversary Michael Schumacher to bounce back from his disappointing 2005 campaign - but also believes that Renault and McLaren will maintain the form they showed last year.

"Michael is a class act," said Mansell. "He can bounce back in 2006 and I think Ferrari will. Don't write Michael off and, if he wants to win the championship, then I think he will. He will certainly win races this year."

Speaking about Alonso, Mansell admitted that he was impressed with the manner of the Spaniard's triumph last year - and expressed his sadness that he was not given more credit for the way he won the title.

"I was impressed with him at the beginning of the year, but I was doubly impressed with him at the end of the year," added Mansell. "From mid-season and two-thirds of the way through, he showed a maturity that wasn't there before.

"He decided to place himself to get the points required to win the championship. Flavio probably helped him enormously and I think Flavio has done a great job with Renault.

"They are a great team, a great engine manufacturer and to win both titles last year, I don't think they got the accolades that they deserved. They deserved more for doing what they did and I was disappointed that they were not acknowledged higher than they were."

Mansell has warned, however, that Alonso's chances of retaining his world crown this year could be compromised by the early announcement of his switch to McLaren in 2007

"I am disappointed with that. If you do the deal, then announce it halfway through the season. But before the season starts? Where is the rationale in that?

"I think Renault are very honourable and they will want to defend the championship in the manner they won it. Alonso is young and gung-ho and I believe that he will be driving very strong and hard.

"But there is no question halfway through the season, or two-thirds of the way through, if both drivers are on a par then it could be complicated."

And Mansell believes that Kimi Raikkonen may be feeling a level of frustration after the reliability problems that wrecked his title charge last year.

"There is a worry that sets in, a frustration, and certainly a concern whether or not the clock is ticking," he explained.

"There is a parallel thing going on with McLaren and Kimi because they should have won another championship by now and probably a couple. I think it is a very important year for them too; the pressure is on the team as well as on the drivers.

"That is great for motorsport and I think they should be one of the hot tips to come out and win, but if they don't then questions are going to be asked."