Fisichella comfortable as Renault leader

Fisichella will stay on at the French squad for a third consecutive season, and he will start as the team leader following Fernando Alonso's exit at the end of last year.

Alonso will be replaced by Finn Kovalainen, who will make his Grand Prix debut this season after a year testing for Renault.

"We know I start as the leader because I have more experience, but we will both have the same equipment, no doubt. Other than that only performance will tell," Fisichella told the official Formula One website.

"I am under pressure because I have to lead the team. I am comfortable with pressure and I have lived with it all my life so for me it is just another challenge, that's all."

The Roman driver, fourth in last year's championship after one victory, believes Renault will still be strong despite Alonso's exit, but he admits the championship is likely to be closer than in 2006.

"The team is quite incredible and they have done a great job in 2005 and 2006 so I do not see why we should do badly in 2007," Fisichella said. "The championship though is going to be much more even - making it more interesting for the fans."

Fisichella, who struggled to match Alonso for the past two seasons, also played down Kovalainen's pace in winter testing.

"I was faster then him in the first Jerez session. You see at the tests we do our job and we never chase laptimes. Sometimes we have different set-ups or work on different programmes," he added.

"Badoer was quicker than Massa at Ferrari. Do you think that Luca is going to replace Felipe just because he was quicker at the test?"