Alonso fears for Renault

Double World Champion doubts team can improve at Silverstone

Last updated: 23rd June 2008

fernando alonso 22/6/2008

Alonso: doubts

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Fernando Alonso fears the result of the French Grand Prix suggested that Renault are losing ground to their main rivals.

The Regie had hoped for better results this season following their poor 2007 campaign but a lack of pace has left the Anglo/French team struggling in midfield.

They currently lie a disappointing seventh in the Constructors' Championship on 12 points, half of what fourth-placed team - and Renault engine customer - Red Bull have scored.

However, they also face competition elsewhere, with Toyota in particular upping their game over the last two races, scoring 14 points compared to Renault's three.

Jarno Trulli scored a podium finish for Toyota in France, with Red Bull's Mark Webber also finishing ahead of Alonso and team-mate Nelson Piquet Jr.

And whether or not Renault have the ability to follow Toyota's example is something Alonso doubts.

"At the moment I don't know if we are in that position," the double World Champion said, when asked if Renault can close the gap to their rivals at the British Grand Prix next weekend.

"Also Toyota are going ahead of us in the Championship, so we need a quick reaction and I don't know if we can do it. But we will keep trying every race."

Piquet positive

However, Piquet sounded more positive after the French Grand Prix - and not without reason.

After a difficult start to his rookie season, the Brazilian scored his first points at Magny-Cours with a seventh-place finish.

The result was doubtless made all the sweeter for Piquet given that, running eighth in the closing stages, he moved up a position when team leader Alonso ran wide having lapped Force India's Adrian Sutil.

"Hopefully it will be a snowball now just getting bigger for the rest of the year," Piquet told autosport.com. "Sooner or later it was going to arrive - I never felt under pressure.

"Obviously everything needs to be better than in the first part of the Championship.

"I was very unlucky, a lot of bad things happened, but hopefully everything will be good from now on."