Alonso:Button will challenge for title

[Dare]

   
Fernando Alonso is fully expecting Jenson Button to be one of his main rivals for this year's Formula One world title.

Button finished last season strongly for Honda, outscoring Alonso and Michael Schumacher in the closing seven races as they battled for the championship.

With the start to the new season just two months away, Button and Honda have continuity on their side following a winter of change within the sport.

Seven-time king Schumacher has retired; Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen are with new teams, while there is now only one tyre manufacturer in Bridgestone, who have long been suppliers to Honda.

If Button can continue the progress he made at the end of 2006, he could finally fulfil the promise many know he has, but on which he has so often failed to deliver.

Alonso, for one, believes Button will be challenging as he said: "I think he can be one of my main rivals this year. I'm expecting him to have moved on.

"We will see how the winter tests go but, right now in January, he is one of the names on the table.

"Honda have got continuity, and maybe they can make something of that because this year it's down to the tyres.

"Whatever team can get used to them quicker will have the advantage."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Alonso is backing himself to win a third successive title, despite joining a McLaren team that failed to win a grand prix last season for the first time in a decade.

Yet after leaving Renault, who helped him win his two titles in the past two years, Alonso concedes he feels like a man re-born.

"What I have felt at McLaren is good professionalism, a team that is very determined and focused on the championship," added Alonso.

"There is a new atmosphere within the team, and I saw that when I went to the factory and met all the people. They are so excited.

"They really think that after a few years without success, this is the year to come back. No-one has doubts.

"That was a complete surprise to me, yet from my point of view, it was great to see all that optimism, and I feel more ambitious now - a completely new man.

"Sometimes after a tough season and when the winter arrives, you want to test as late as possible, to be on your holidays as much as you can.

"But now it's the opposite. I want to be in the car. I feel like when I arrived in Formula One six years ago. I just want to drive."

Alonso showed no hesitation when he was asked as to who were the favourites for the title this year, replying: "McLaren.

"I don't know about Ferrari and Renault, but I've full confidence in us.

"From all the information I have, everything looks so promising and I'm so optimistic.

"If the info on paper becomes reality on the track, then we will have a very good car. We will be strong."

We'll wait and see