Alonso 'feels no pressure'

Fernando Alonso, the youngest world champion in Formula One history, starts the defence of his crown insisting a great weight has been lifted from his shoulders.

The 24-year-old led Renault to a drivers’ and constructors’ title double last year, fulfilling the enormous potential he has shown since graduating to Formula One.

Anyone who can shine in a Minardi, as Alonso so deftly did in 2001, must be destined for greatness but to add a race win by the age of 22 only heaped pressure on the young Spaniard. Add to that the expectation of a whole nation not so much hungry for Formula One success as ravenous, and Alonso had plenty to live up to.

Amid the maelstrom of a championship campaign, the youngster retained an unnerving calm but as he prepares to wear the number one for the first time, he believes he has eased the pressure.

“From my point of view, there will be less pressure,” he said. “Until last year, you always heard people saying I was one of the young, talented drivers. When that is the opinion, you have to prove you deserve the reputation – and you have to win before it is too late.

“Now, I have done it and out of 22 drivers, we are only three who have won the championship: Michael Schumacher, Jacques Villeneuve and me. So from that point of view, I think the other 19 drivers have the pressure.”

But far from relaxing now his lifetime’s ambition has been fulfilled, Alonso is plotting another title win.

As if to prove a world championship has not dimmed his hunger for success, the Oviedo-born racer capped a memorable 2005 by stunning the paddock once again, this time by signing to McLaren for 2007.

He is adamant an imminent change of employer will not cloud his final season at Renault – and wants to leave the Anglo-French team on a high with more world championships.

“As a world champion, I think I have the responsibility to maintain my level of performance now for the rest of my career,” he said.

“However, I think I can take more pleasure in the job as well. I am going to try and enjoy the experience. At this time of year, it doesn’t mean anything to say you can win the title - but I certainly want to be fighting for it.

“Renault has the potential, the team has the confidence that we can do it from last year, and the form of the car seems competitive. My goal is to defend the number one on the nose.

“For me, 2006 is a new challenge. My character is very competitive, and I want to win no matter what. Okay, I was champion last year, but that is finished now. When we get to the first race, it is a new competition. Everything begins again.”

Alonso hardly endeared himself to team boss, and personal manager, Flavio Briatore when he dropped his McLaren bombshell last December.

To the surprise of most in Formula One, Briatore claims he never knew what was coming, but despite the Italian’s fearsome reputation, Alonso does not expect repercussions.

The Spaniard need only talk to the likes of Jarno Trulli or Jenson Button to learn how hard life at Renault can become if Briatore falls out of love with a driver.

However, Alonso is confident he will still be Briatore’s blue-eyed boy come the season-opener in Bahrain on March 12.

“I’m completely sure that the team will help me in the way that they have helped me always, like last year, and nothing really will change in terms of helping one driver over the other driver” he added.

“This is not in the plans of Renault and not something that should be done.

“I am 100% confident in the Renault team. I will defend the number one and they will defend the constructors’ championship – we need to help each other and I’m sure we can do it again.”