BUDAPEST, Aug 2 - Even with Michael Schumacher looking increasingly
menacing in a title fight that threatens to go down to the wire, world champion
Fernando Alonso refuses to be rattled.
The Renault driver is confident he can take the fight to Ferrari in Sunday's
Hungarian Grand Prix after being eclipsed by his Formula One rival in Germany
last weekend for the third race in succession.
"I don't think we will see a repeat of what happened in Germany," Alonso, now
just 11 points clear of Schumacher with six races remaining, said in a team
preview.
"Personally, I am calm and I know the team has been working hard to
understand what happened.
"The tyres in Hungary are very different to what we need in Germany, and
Michelin have reacted to the problems as well," added the 25-year-old Spaniard,
fifth in Hockenheim on severely blistered tyres.
"People are talking about Michael closing in, but I was never over-confident
when I was leading -- and I am not panicking now. I am confident we can have a
strong race."
Alonso can point to his breakthrough win at the Hungaroring in 2003, when he
became the youngest driver to win a Formula One race, for psychological support.
Yet while the memory of that success still burns bright, he will not want too
much reminding of last year's race at the Budapest circuit where he was lapped
and finished 11th.
This is a race that Alonso needs to win, to break Schumacher's run of form
and rebuild morale at a key point in the season.
STRENGTHENED RESOLVE
"Hearing people write us off this year has only strengthened our resolve,"
said Renault's chief strategist Pat Symonds. "We will be doing everything in our
power to turn the tables on Sunday."
Even if Hungary 2005 marks the last time he failed to score a point, Alonso
also took strength from that race.
"It shows how quickly things can turn around in Formula One, because one week
earlier I had won in Germany," he said.
"It will be a different picture this year I think, and the V8 engines and
softer tyres will mean we are much quicker in the corners. I am expecting a good
race, and there is no reason why Renault cannot come out on top."
