Fisichella targets title in 2006

The Renault driver started the 2005 season in promising fashion after winning the Australian Grand Prix. His year, however, was all downhill from there, and Fisichella failed to win again and was eclipsed by his teammate Fernando Alonso.

The Spaniard went on to become the youngest ever champion.

But Fisichella is hoping 2006 will be his year.

"In 2006 I will have a team and a car capable of letting me win the Drivers' World Championship," Fisichella told Autosprint. "Fernando had an incredible season: he always drove well, almost without mistakes. But we have to analyze things more deeply.

"He raced with a car designed around him and it must be driven in a certain way which is totally different from my driving style. He is very aggressive with the steering wheel at turn entry, while I'm very tidy. Thing is the R25 had to be driven more with his style than with mine."

Despite this year's struggles, Fisichella is confident a new approach will help him beat Alonso in 2006.

"That's the main thing: there is and has been a thorough exchange of information between myself and the Renault technicians, so much in fact that I've been given precise guarantees they will try their hardest at adapting the car to my characteristics," he added.

"So, with this change of premises, I don't see why the differences in results between Fernando and me shouldn't change too. Mine aren't empty proclamations for 2006, but concrete, logical and argumented reasoning. This is what my confidence for the future stands on.

"From January we will do a lot of testing on the new car and I'm sure I'll be able to do even better than in the past. I have big hopes because I feel the team has faith in me and psychologically we'll start back from zero.

"This year I beat Alonso in some races. That will mean that in more favourable conditions I will be able to do so - and more often - in the future."

The Roman driver doesn't believe Alonso will have the status of number one driver next season despite being the defending World Champion.

"No. In fact Flavio [Briatore] told me: 'Now that we've won everything, we find ourselves with the right budget to have two winning cars.'

Fisichella also said he had never been criticised by his team boss.

"If we look at his comments about me at the end of the season, they are all positive. Note that Flavio could have fired me or do whatever he wanted with me but didn't," he added.

"And if we analyze all the most heated and delicate moments of the season I can demonstrate that I've never deserved a scolding."