Alonso predicts … Räikkönen for the title

Fernando Alonso stated that he sees Kimi Räikkönen as the favorite to win the Formula 1 World Championship this year.

While he himself with Renault seems unable to be present on the front two rows of the starting grid, Alonso claims that his competitor’s form is dazzling. Räikkönen, who races for Ferrari, will be able to combine his winning experience from last season with the announced performances of the F2008 to seize a second crown.

« It is difficult to form an opinion from tests, but we must acknowledge that Ferrari is one of the favorite teams, and furthermore, the Scuderia holds the last world champion. Kimi will be the driver to beat this year in 2008, » declared Alonso in an interview with the BBC.

« In addition to Räikkönen, Lewis Hamilton, Heikki Kovalainen, Felipe Massa, that is to say the two Ferrari drivers and the two McLaren drivers are all capable of winning the championship, but if I had to say only one name then it would be Kimi. »

The Iberian, who won two titles in 2005 and 2006, believes that Räikkönen will have the confidence needed to win races and the championship because he is motivated by his success last year and particularly by his extraordinary comeback against Hamilton and Alonso.

« I think that Kimi, at the end of last year, had a very good final race. He also had his share of luck to become world champion. He is now in a dominant position. »

« Now, he will be confident, he will be very fast, (nothing new), and it will be interesting to see how he behaves this year after winning the championship last year, » he added.

For him, Hamilton, his former teammate, is going to be one of the best drivers this year, after proving himself in 2007… and in what a manner!

« I wish him good luck for the championship, » said Alonso about Hamilton.

« After a year of experience, things become easier in some ways. You know the circuits, how to ‘do’ races, and you know how to endure the pressure. So, there are many factors that will work in his favor this year compared to 2007. »