Fisichella wants just a little luck

"I know I have a good chance to do well this year," the Italian told reporters after Friday's Malaysian Grand Prix practice.

"I've got a good package, I've got a great team behind me and I am physically and mentally in very good condition.

"I'm going to do my best to win the championship, I just need a bit of luck because already the start is not that good."

Alonso won the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend but, with the 24-year-old Spaniard moving to McLaren next season, some think Fisichella will never have a better chance to be champion.

However, he is still waiting to open his account. At Sakhir last week, the 33-year-old suffered from a lack of power and was forced to retire from the race.

He was particularly upset because he had identified the problem in qualifying and made his feelings evident on a team radio message broadcast on live television. He later apologised for the outburst.

"I wasn't particularly happy about last weekend," he said. "But there's a good atmosphere in the team and even last Sunday, considering the problem I had, all the mechanics and engineers were very impressed with my consistency in the race."

His start this year was a contrast to the first race of last season, when he won for Renault in Australia and arrived at Sepang as championship leader.

Alonso took that race and went on to win six more times on his way to the title, while Fisichella's season descended into a trough of bad luck and poor finishes.

On Friday, Alonso was the quickest race driver behind two test drivers in second practice and although Fisichella was sixth fastest overall, he remained confident.

"We had a good day and we have good potential, unfortunately at the beginning there was a bit of traffic so that's why I am not in the top three or four," he said.

"I am happy about the car and it looks good for tomorrow."