Rivals ready to battle for constructors' title

Title rivals Renault and McLaren are ready to battle it out for the constructors' championship in the last two races and with just two points to McLaren's advantage it could go either way. Fernando Alonso was victorious over Kimi Raikkonen for the drivers' crown but now that is behind them the opponents are fully focused on trying to secure the top honour for their respective teams.

Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen.

Photo by xpb.cc.

"In terms of performance I think that it will be similar because when you have the helmet on, you close the visor and you go for it," said Alonso in regard to how he will approach the concluding races of the season.

"Also in Sao Paulo I tried to win the race, but obviously in some parts of the race, at the start, maybe when Juan Pablo overtook me on the second lap, maybe you are a little bit conservative because that isn't the time to take risks and maybe it will be more difficult to overtake me."

One championship may be over for Raikkonen but obviously there's still more to play for. "There are still two races to try to win the constructors' championship but we will do the best that we can for the last two remaining races," said the Finn.

As for next season, Raikkonen naturally aims to be fighting it out again. "We will try to fight for the championship and try to win it but with all the new rules we don't know what's going to happen next year," he remarked. "But I think we will have a good package anyhow and hopefully it will be good enough for winning races and fighting for the championship."

And what about the recently deposed champion Michael Schumacher, will he be in the picture? His five year reign may have come to end but his successor believes the German will be a force to be reckoned with in 2006 -- presuming that Ferrari will be back up to speed.

"I think Michael is still Michael and he didn't change anything compared to previous seasons," Alonso commented. "The Ferrari was not as strong any more and he didn't get the opportunity to win many races but for sure next year will be the favourite one again to start the championship."

Renault boss Flavio Briatore wants the constructors' title as much as McLaren counterpart Ron Dennis but if it doesn't happen for the French squad this time, Briatore is satisfied with Alonso winning the drivers' championship. "We know that the McLaren are very very quick and at this moment we need to try our best to win the constructors' championship," he said. "It is important as well."

"But we try; we are making the best effort between Fernando and Giancarlo. But on the other hand, we are very, very happy with the drivers' championship because, in the end, it is the Formula One drivers' championship at the moment and we've done it. Now, if we don't win the constructors' championship, then congratulations to McLaren."