Alonso looking to consolidate lead

Fernando Alonso again believes he faces another damage-limitation exercise at Sunday’s German Grand Prix due to the power of the McLarens.

Alonso readily concedes McLaren and championship rival Kimi Raikkonen are the “best package” currently in Formula One, with Hockenheim a track again suited to their car.

Renault and Alonso have so far done a good job of defending the lead they built up in the early part of the season, thanks in part to the bad luck Raikkonen has suffered.

Engine failures in the last two grands prix have hampered Raikkonen’s bid to close a gap that now stands at 26 points, not withstanding charging performances from a low grid position.

The Spaniard knows, though, Raikkonen has a clear speed advantage, and with the Finn’s team mate in Juan Pablo Montoya now a threat after his victory at the British Grand Prix, it could be a difficult weekend ahead for Alonso.

“Next weekend’s race in Hungary will be better,” said Alonso, who will spend his 24th birthday next Friday in Budapest.

“Hockenheim is not bad for us, it could be good. Hopefully it will be, but let’s wait and see.

“In the French Grand Prix at Magny Cours we were confident, yet with the same fuel load Kimi was seven tenths quicker than us – which is a lot – and then three tenths quicker at Silverstone.

“So sometimes at circuits where you feel confident and you feel it will be better for your car, it is not true.

“Obviously, I would love to win. To win is always more important than just hoping to get into the points.

“We approach a weekend always thinking there is a possibility to win the race, but at times we have to be realistic and say that at the moment the McLaren is the team to beat.

“If we cannot win we have to minimise the problems and the points with them because we are also fighting for the constructors’ championship, so if I cannot win, then the points are still good for me.”

At least there is a healthy rivalry between the title’s two main protagonists, with Michael Schumacher seemingly out of the running for an eighth world title as he trails Alonso by 34 points.

“I’ve known Kimi since ’97 from go-karts and we have always had a good relationship, no problems,” insisted Alonso.

“There’s not much conversation, like all Formula One drivers, but there’s a lot of respect for each other.

“He is a great driver and I am very proud to fight with him because he is the best on the grid, in that he has the best package at the moment.

“After three years at McLaren he knows the team perfectly, knows the car, and together they’ve been very strong all season.

“So to fight with him is very hard for me, but much better than with some other names, although it doesn’t worry me much. It’s nothing new.

“Since Imola they have had the best package, but we’ve won near enough the same number of races since then.

“In Formula One, you not only have to have the best package, but you need the luck, to be professional and to manage the races, qualifying and strategies.

“We are not so slow and at some circuits I know we can fight with them for the victory.

“At other circuits like Silverstone, even though it was not perfect for us, we found a good set up, good tyres and good strategy, and we nearly won.

“So we are still there.”