Webber: Alonso could be unstoppable

That is the view of Australian Mark Webber, who reckons the Spanish driver will lift the British team following a disappointing 2006.

"If Alonso can get a good car from McLaren I don't think anyone will touch him again - he's the class in the field at the moment, there's no one who can compete with him consistently," Webber told The Age newspaper.

"He's double world champion when Michael (Schumacher) was still around, which is a great feather in his cap and something which I know he's particularly rapt about.

"I think he will give them that lift actually. McLaren have been looking for a bit of direction for a while now and I think Fernando can give it to them."

Alonso will move to McLaren next season after having won the last two championships with Renault.

The Mercedes-powered squad endured their first win-less season in a decade this year, and their star driver Kimi Raikkonen is leaving for Ferrari.

"Kimi is phenomenally quick, we know that," Webber added. "Whether he can take it to Fernando during the course of the season, it's going to be a good fight between those two."

Webber also believes Renault will be competitive next year, despite losing Alonso.

The French squad will have rookie Heikki Kovalainen partnering Giancarlo Fisichella.

"Renault will be strong, Kovalainen will be one of the finds of the season I think and Fisi could come out of his shell because he hasn't got Fernando there," Webber said.