Happy Alonso Surprised by Renault's Pace

Spaniard Fernando Alonso claimed his Renault team had surpassed expectations in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix after finishing third to claim his fifth Grand Prix podium.

22-year old Alonso, who is tipped as the sport's future star, said the team were targeting points rather than podiums in the opening races of the season and was delighted with the surprise top-three finish behind the dominant Ferraris of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello.

"It was a good start," Alonso said. "It is not what we expected. We came here with good car but at the moment our target is points and a podium is much better than we expected at the beginning. I had a problem with [Juan Pablo] Montoya, which cost me a bit, and I put two wheels on the grass.

"I was too slow to fight with Ferraris but quicker than Jenson [Button] and I was in the middle of nowhere for much of the race."

Renault are expected to challenge for race wins this year after Alonso won last year's Hungarian Grand Prix to record their first victory since they returned to the sport in 2002. Alonso promised there is more to come from the Anglo-French team in the coming races.

"We have three or four steps with the engine for the European races and I think then we can be more competitive," he said.

Alonso's teammate Jarno Trulli failed to match the Spaniard's pace after an early-race collision damaged his car but he still managed to record a seventh place and a double points finish for his team.

"At the start of the race the car was damaged and it is a shame because I was looking for a good race and I only finished seventh," said Trulli. "It was pretty consistent in the race. I think we will be more competitive in Malaysia."

Renault's eight-point haul puts them into third place in the early season Constructors' Championship standings behind one-two winners Ferrari on 18 points and Williams on nine.