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At first we didn't believe him. We had become all too aware of what a political animal Fernando Alonso could be after his annus miserabilis at McLaren in 2007, so all his elaborate talk of downplaying Renault's form on his return to the team was just interpreted as part of the action plan.
Only by playing things down could Alonso hope to catch the opposition unawares, and return Renault to the winners' circle.
For sure it was too much to expect Alonso's homecoming to instantly deliver the same form that had delivered back-to-back world titles in 2005 and 2006, but a big step forward would surely see them fighting up there at the front for much of the season just gone.
