Alonso not giving up on Renault

World champion Fernando Alonso says he is committed to bringing Renault back to the top step of the podium and has denied he has a performance clause in his contract allowing him to leave the team at the end of the season.

But the 26-year-old Spaniard, who has been linked to switch to Ferrari in 2009, hinted to reporters in Bahrain that it was too early in the season for him to make firm decisions about his future.

“I don`t remember that clause and I signed for two years with Renault,” said Alonso. “But as we saw last year the contracts are always very flexible.”

Alonso`s best result so far this season was fourth, in Australia, but then finished 70 seconds behind Ferrari`s Kimi Raikkonen in Malaysia.

Asked if he was committed to staying at Renault and turning the team`s fortunes around, Alonso replied: “At the moment yes, because we have just started the championship.

“And okay, we are disappointed with our performances in the first two races, but it is not time to give up now, it is time to keep working as hard as we can,” he added.

“And then we will see at the middle of the season or the end of the season where we are and for next year there is a big change of rules it seems, so aerodynamically there will be a big change with very little wings and we will have slick tyres again probably.

“So all this can change the picture again in F1, at the moment I am really convinced that we can do a good job, Renault and me together.”

Formula One`s regulation changes are likely to be the most far-reaching for more than two decades in the sport, and Alonso believes that with the resources at Renault`s disposal, the team will be well-placed to take advantage of the opportunity.

“I think when rules change this dramatically it is like throwing a coin in the air,” he said.

“Any team can have a good car and fight for the championship. At the moment the teams that we are behind now, this is the thing that we are hoping, a big change in rules and we can recover the gap quickly.

“If the rules stay the same for the next ten years or whatever, we know that Ferrari and McLaren will fight for the next ten championships. So hopefully next year everything will change a little bit and maybe we can see the benefit of it.”

3.4.2008   ▪ Formula One    ▪ Alonso, Renault    ▪ www.autosport.com