Renault Ace Driver, Fernando Alonso, is still Confident

Renault ace driver, Fernando Alonso claims this season's F1 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 driver 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.

This year the 24-year-old faces a similar situation with Ferrari's Michael Schumacher edging back into the championship scrap - but he is sleeping easier at night.

''Last year was more tough than this year but the final result of this year maybe will be tighter than last year,'' Fernando Alonso said at Hockenheim, venue for this weekend's 2006 German Grand Prix.

''McLaren was half a second quicker than us, it was impossible to beat them, only if they had mechanical problems was it possible to win. This year with Ferrari, some races we win, some they win. It is more equal,'' he adds.

Alonso is far from underestimating his opposition though and claims the former F1 World Champion, Michael Schumacher, is a better driver than ever at the age of 37.

Schumacher has rewritten Formula One's record books during a glittering career but Alonso refuses to countenance any thought that the German great has lost his edge.

''I think in this sport as you get old it is not that important,'' he said. ''Maybe you lose reflexes but only a small amount.''

Can Michael Schumacher win the German Grand Prix or will Fernando Alonso spoil Michael Schumacher's homecoming at Hockenheim? Bodog has the odds on the 2006 German Grand Prix:

Michael Schumacher 5/7

Fernando Alonso 7/5

Kimi Raikkonen 10/1