Gascoyne: Fisichella must win regularly

Gascoyne worked with Fisichella at Renault in 2001, and rates the Italian's natural ability.

But he doesn't think Fisichella can deliver the relentless frontrunning performances that Alonso produced while winning the last two world championships with Renault.

"I think he can deliver, I think he's very talented," Gascoyne told Reuters.

"Whether he can do it as consistently as someone like Fernando, probably not.

"He definitely has to win half a dozen races this year.

"If not he'll be falling back to the teams down the grid, he won't be getting another top line drive."

Fisichella won just twice while paired with Alonso at Renault, while his teammate scored 14 victories in the same period.

But the Italian has already suggested that Renault's competitiveness will dip this season, and that he might be hard-pressed to win at all.

"We are not as quick as two years ago," Fisichella was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.

"The aim is to win, but it depends on the competitiveness of the car. If we are able to have the speed of the last couple of years it is possible, but if not then it is not."