Fisi undaunted by Alonso

Many see next season as Fisichella's last chance to prove that he deserves a place with a top team. But although Renault is perceived as a step up from Sauber, where Fisichella had clear number one status, he is now in an outfit where the other driver is one of F1's hottest young stars and popular within the team.

"I think Renault is capable of providing two equal cars to both of us," he said. "I know Flavio Briatore is the manager of Alonso, but it is up to me to be faster than him.

"Alonso is very strong and he is a very good driver so I just have to learn quickly. It is nice to be back with a top team. The team has got bigger since I was here last time and there are more expectations so we will try. But it will be very difficult because Ferrari is two or three years ahead of us."

The Italian declared himself happy to be back after testing for Renault at Barcelona on Wednesday. Fisichella, who last drove for the team in 2001 prior to stints at Jordan and Sauber, was 10th fastest overall having completed only 29 laps in the afternoon and admitted there is much for him to learn about his 'new' team.

"When you move to a new team you have to learn lots of new things, but for me it's not completely new," he said. "I still know at least 50 per cent of the people from the last time.

"I also have Alan [Permane] who was my engineer when I drove here before so it's nice to be able to work with him again. At the moment I have got this year's car and it is really set-up for [Jarno] Trulli and Alonso. It is not that easy to drive and I have to really reset lots of things. The most difficult thing is the tyres. I have talked to Franck [Montagny] about the car and I am just learning at the moment."