Faure predicts McLaren challenge

Renault F1 Team chief Patrick Faure predicts McLaren will again be his team's main rivals next season. Fernando Alonso won the drivers' title in a Renault last season and the team claimed the manufacturers' crown.

Patrick Faure "I think it will be a fight like the last year between McLaren and us - there is a big question mark over what Ferrari are going to do. When I look at (Alonso) and listen to him talking, it reminds me sometimes of Ayrton Senna. Senna wanted to win races and the rest was secondary. Fernando still is someone who has only one goal at present, which is to win as many races as possible and as many championships."

Alonso won seven races last season, with team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella, who finished fifth in the championship, coming home first in one race.

At the age of 24, Alonso became the youngest-ever world champion. Next season, rule changes mean teams will race using V8 engines rather than V10s, and tyre changes will once again be allowed during races.

Renault team principal, Flavio Briatore said he did not expect these to have any adverse impact on the team's chances.
"I don't think the tyre change is an extraordinary one, we're just going back to what we had two years ago. I think Michelin do have the capacity to surprise everybody and in 2005 they did an excellent job. The work we will do with them over the winter will be big and important."