Alonso aims to bounce back at ‘home race’

Defending world drivers’ champion Fernando Alonso believes that this weekend’s French Grand Prix will see him bounce back from his disappointment in America last time out.

Defending world drivers’ champion Fernando Alonso believes that this weekend’s French Grand Prix will see him bounce back from his disappointment in America last time out.

The 24-year-old Spaniard could only finish fifth in his Renault at the United States Grand Prix as his title rival Michael Schumacher won for Ferrari to cut his championship lead to 19 points with eight races left.

But Alonso believes the French manufacturer’s home race will see him claim his seventh win of the season and re-extend the gap over the German. Alonso said: “A gap of 25 points before Indy didn’t mean that we would be champions automatically, and now that the gap is 19 points, we cannot be pessimistic and think the advantage will disappear quickly.

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“You have to look at the big picture for the championship. I was first or second at nine of the ten races — and in the next eight races, I think we will be able to keep on winning and increase the lead even more.”

Renault are this weekend celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first Grand Prix at Le Mans in 1906.

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