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PARIS - Former Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso made it clear today he would be Renault's No 1 driver this season after being denied top billing by McLaren last year.
The Spaniard, who won both his Formula One titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006, has returned to the French team after his move to McLaren soured.
Beaten by sensational British teammate Lewis Hamilton last year, Alonso again has a 22-year-old rookie alongside him in Brazilian Nelson Piquet but this time the Spaniard expects to call the shots.
"I feel very good, I always felt very good in Renault," he said at the launch of the new R28 car when asked how he had slotted back in.
"I was not world champion when I (first) came here and they always supported me and respected me ... now I came back, and it is the same approach.
"They respect me and they help me...if anything is new in the car for sure now in the tests they will try to put that part in my car first to try and develop and understand it, and then it goes to Nelsinho," he added.
However, he denied having any special clauses in his contract.
"I know how Renault works, I know (team boss) Flavio (Briatore) perfectly and there is nothing in the contract, nothing strange," he said.
"I only know that he will manage the situation and he will help the driver who has more possibilities always."
Piquet, questioned separately, had few illusions about where he stood in the pecking order.
"I am in a team where Fernando won two championships, I'm in a team where Flavio loves Fernando because they've been together since a long time and have accomplished many victories together," he said.
"I think the most stupid thing I could do would be to fight him. The best thing for me to do would be to learn as much as I can and the day I have a chance to win a race, to win it."
Alonso had no regrets about last season, one in which he won four races and finished only a point behind Ferrari's new champion Kimi Raikkonen.
"It was a difficult season but in the difficulties you learn even more and quicker," he said.
"This year for sure I will be better. The past is the past so everything is closed. Not only last year with McLaren but the past with Renault and Minardi is closed as well.
"It's time to move forward and we have enough with problems with this year's car, to improve it and develop it and to get used to the new regulations with no traction control. It is impossible to think about the past."
Renault, who won no races last year and finished third overall after McLaren were stripped of all their constructors' points, have targeted a return to the top but Alonso said it would not be easy.
The first task was to catch McLaren and Ferrari.
"We are a little too far behind them and there are not many possibilities to fight them for podiums or wins. That is the first priority of these winter tests and first races, to close that gap," he said.
"Being behind them two or three tenths (of a second) is not a big problem but one second or eight tenths or whatever we are at the moment is a bit much."
- REUTERS
