18/12/2007
NEWS STORY
Days after his return to Renault, the team with which he won back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006, Fernando Alonso has played down hopes of a serious title bid in 2008.
"It is madness to think about winning the championship again with Renault," he told Spain's Cadena Ser radio station. "It is necessary to be realistic, approximately 110 points are needed.
"We need to take a big leap," he admitted. "Right now I do not think about the championship but improving the car and then see what can be done."
The Spaniard, who is widely thought to have some sort of deal in place to join Ferrari, possibly as early as 2009, revealed that following his acrimonious split with McLaren he was approached by just about every team except the Maranello outfit.
"Almost all of the teams made their approach," he admitted, but nothing specific, just expressions of interest. Waiting 30 or 35 days was logically because it was a difficult decision and you have to try to pick the best."