Spanish Formula One driver Fernando Alonso said he is aiming for a third world title with Renault in 2009, Spain’s sports newspaper, Marca, reported on Wednesday.
”Our only aim is to be champions,” he said. ”The arrival of slick tyres is good for my driving and the new [technical] rules give us confidence to fight McLaren and Ferrari.”
Alonso, who was world champion with Renault in 2005 and 2006, has concluded a largely disappointing year in which Renault failed to keep pace with McLaren and Ferrari.
But improvements in the car’s performance helped him record two wins late in the season.
Briton Lewis Hamilton of McLaren won the 2008 world title ahead of Brazilian Felipe Massa in a Ferrari.
Alonso also said he opposed the new scoring system proposed by Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, while saying he was resigned to it.
Under the planned system, drivers would receive gold, silver and bronze medals for the first three placings in a race, and the world champion would be decided by the driver with the most golds.
Alonso (27) also criticised a plan for a single standard engine in all Formula One cars for 2010, saying he would consider retiring from the sport if it was implemented. — AFP
