By Elmar Dreher Apr 19, 2006, 16:35 GMT
Imola, Italy - Fernado Alonso may have a convincing lead over his closest rivals, but he doesn't expect the quest for back-to-back Formula One world titles to be an easy ride.
Alonso said in an interview with Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa ahead of Sunday's San Marino GP that he expects ex-champion Michael Schumacher among the challengers.
'The fight for the title is much tighter than last year. There are four teams on a similar level and each one can win races. The competition is tight and I am surprised that I have such a lead,' said Alonso.
'There are three big title rivals as far as I am concerned: Giancarlo Fisichella, because we have the same material, then Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen,' he said.
Alonso, who last year became the first Spaniard and at 24 the youngest F1 world champion, has amassed 28 of a possible 30 points from the first three of 18 season races.
His Renault team-mate Fisichella and the McLaren-Mercedes driver Raikkonen follow on 14 points each, with the seven-time world champion Schumacher fourth on 11 points.
But Alonso also admitted that Renault were in a very strong position to get another title.
'Right now we are the team to beat. But much will depend on the further development of the car over the year. The key is to be competitive in summer and fast in the championship finale (in autumn). The title will go to the team which has the best development,' he said.
But even though Renault have dominated the season and are still the top team, Alonso expects a big fight in the first season race in Europe on Sunday, with Imola also being one of the home races of Italy-based Ferrari.
'It will be a big fight, with McLaren and especially with Ferrari. They were a little behind us in the last races but I expect them to be strong. I want to make the podium again but we know it will be very difficult to win here,' Alonso said.
Alonso said it would be no extra satisfaction to beat Ferrari in Imola like he did last year after a dramatic fight with Schumacher.
But Alonso did recently say that victories against Schumacher were special.
'It is nicer to beat Schumacher than to beat others. He is known all around the world,' Alonso told Italian daily La Gazzetta dello Sport.
But beating Schumacher on the track, which he did again in the 2006 season-opener in Bahrain, doesn't mean that Alonso is driven by the desire to break Schumacher's long list of records in the sport such as 84 race wins and 13 wins in one season.
'It is not my motivation to break his records. I want to beat him on the track,' Alonso said of his 37-year-old rival.
'I don't think I will become old in F1 driving. Michael has had unbelievable performances, but they came under unique circumstances on a team with a very high level over a long period. I believe he has achieved something unique.'
Alonso, who will leave Renault for McLaren in 2007, said he did not want to speculate on the future of Schumacher, whose deal with Ferrari expires after the season.
Schumacher has been linked with various teams, the latest being Red Bull. Earlier Renault, whose team boss Flavio Briatore was in the past head of the Benetton team for which Schumacher won his first titles 1994 and 1995, said they too would be interested in Schumacher's services.
'I don't think that I should comment on this. Everyone knows that Renault are a top team. They won't have a problem finding a top driver for the next year,' said Alonso.
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