After scoring only 5 points in the first 4 races of this season – being one of the front-runners from the “non-diffuser” pack of drivers – Alonso admitted he puts all his hopes in the new package. Formula One's European debut will take place before his home crowd in Barcelona, with Renault expected to introduce a completely revised double diffuser by May 8th.
“I think the next three races are quite important. I think more or less, all the teams will bring all the big parts for the next three races. Some of the teams will put everything in Barcelona, some of them will have something in Monaco and the last couple of teams will put what they have on in Turkey. So after that, we will see who is challenging for the championship, and who is challenging for podiums and who is completely out of everything,” said Alonso.
The Spaniard also gave his personal view on who are the teams to beat this season, as it's quite clear Renault's aim for the rest of the season will be to catch up with privateers Brawn GP and Red Bull Racing. The latter, although engine partners with Renault, have so far developed a much more competitive package for 2009, leave aside the double decker diffuser.
“We cannot forget that sometimes we call them small teams, and they are not so small. Red Bull and Brawn have the resources, maybe more than even Renault, and more facilities than Renault,” said the Renault driver.
Alonso is currently 8th overall in the drivers' classification, no less than 26 points behind championship leader Jenson Button and 13 points short of podium's last step occupier, Sebastian Vettel.
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