Alonso does not regret his return to Renault

The double world champion Fernando Alonso confirmed that he still has no regrets about leaving McLaren for the Renault team even though they don’t seem capable of winning races at the start of the season.

« No, not at all, » declared Alonso on Cadena Ser when asked if he regretted his return to the French team.

« When I signed a contract for Renault, I knew it was a team that had finished nearly two seconds behind the winning car in the last race in Brazil. »

I was expecting this start of the season where it would be impossible to close such a significant gap and have a car capable of winning the first race.

« Many people expect too much from Renault, but I am where I expected to be and I have no regrets, » he added.

The Spaniard joined the team managed by Flavio Briatore after a difficult season with McLaren in 2007.

Renault endured a disappointing 2007 season, achieving only one podium finish after two consecutive titles with the Iberian.

The team has not been able to find the necessary resources during the winter to prevail. They estimate they are still about half a second behind McLaren and Ferrari.

« I’m trying to answer the questions as sincerely as possible, » he said.

« And when I’m asked where we stand today, I think between seventh and ninth place. That’s what I said last week, and that’s really how I feel. »

« Looking at what we’ve done day by day with the tests in Jerez, Valencia and Barcelona, I really think that, for now, we are unable to fight for the podium. We remain hopeful of closing this gap if we work better than the other teams. »

« With an extra half-second, you qualify for the top five. You can then fight to be in the top five and with a mistake from a driver, you’re on the podium, » the Spaniard continued.

« And it is this current gap between the top-tier teams that we are trying to reduce. »

He believes, finally, that Renault is not yet accustomed to the Bridgestone tires that they had to choose last year.

« The team is doing better … But there are small details that make the car better, » added Alonso.

« I think the rule of having the same tires, introduced last year, was a bit of a shock for Renault. They were already trying to adapt to it in 2007 and we are still trying to do so today. »