Last year tougher: Alonso

FERNANDO ALONSO claims this season’s world championship battle is nothing compared to how hard he had to fight last year.

This time last season, Alonso was clinging on to his championship lead under intense pressure from McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen as the pair scrapped for a maiden title.

Renault ace Alonso remained out of reach thanks to McLaren’s poor reliability, which cost Raikkonen several likely wins and ultimately dashed his title hopes.