Alonso remains confident

Fernando Alonso is confident he can still trouble Ferrari on their home ground despite a low-key start to practice for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

The Renault driver leads Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher by 12 points in the world championship but that looks under threat after the German’s ominous start to the weekend.

Schumacher was the fastest race driver in practice yesterday, followed closely by team-mate Felipe Massa, while Alonso appeared to struggle.

However, world champion Alonso is adamant his eighth place is not as discouraging as it would appear.

He said: “We ran a lot here last week, so it was all about checking off some specific jobs for the race, and testing the tyres.

“The times suggest we are not so quick, especially compared to Ferrari, but this is Friday and we know how much things can change through the weekend.

“I had a bit too much understeer that meant I couldn’t attack the corners as I wanted to, but we will dial this out overnight and I am confident the car will feel good.

“I think we have made a good start to the weekend, and we now need to build on this.”

Renault technical chief Pat Symonds offered Alonso hope of improvement once the competitive sessions start with qualifying tomorrow.

He said: “We expect to see our relative performance increase.”

Schumacher was keen not to write off Alonso despite yesterday’s results.

Friday times are difficult to read and, despite his desperate need for a return to winning ways, Schumacher refused to jump to conclusions.

He said: “It is a bit too early to make any snap judgements. It is only Friday and usually we see that things change quickly during the weekend.

“Of course I want to win but I don’t think the gap we saw will stay like this through the weekend. However, as usual I will give it my all.”

Ahead of world champions Schumacher and Alonso, BMW-Sauber’s rookie test driver Sebastian Vettel continued his impressive form since being thrust into the Formula One limelight two weeks ago in Turkey.

He was fastest in both sessions, with his lap of one minute 22.631 seconds in the afternoon the best of the day.

The 19-year-old German, the youngest Formula One driver to take part in a grand prix weekend, picked up another pit lane speed fine to add to the one he earned just a few seconds into his Istanbul debut.

But Vettel was still smiling after making his mark again.

He said: “The morning wasn’t too easy for me as since the test here I have been driving in Formula Three. But the step up from Formula Three to Formula One is easier than the other way round.

“I really enjoy driving this car as it is just fantastic.”