Formula One news

Alonso bullish over title hopes

Fernando Alonso has declared that the battle for the drivers' title starts now. The two-time world champion previously expressed concerns about how he was settling in at the McLaren team but now he says he feels comfortable and ready to fight for the championship with Lewis Hamilton, who is ten points ahead of the Spaniard in the standings.

Alonso told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser: "I think coming back to Europe will benefit me. I believe the championship starts now. There have only been seven grands prix so far this season, so we are not even halfway through the championship yet. And now I feel more comfortable than previously and full of belief that everything will go well from here on in.

"I think we are better than a week or two ago. They know we have a very good car that everything is working for us, that reliability is working, the car is very quick, and that both drivers can win races and finish on the podium."

Alonso also revealed how the McLaren team has changed its tune since Hamilton won his first race at Montreal a couple of weeks ago. Now Alonso claims he is happy with the team's renewed attitude and denies that he was angry at the team for allowing Hamilton access to his car's data.

He added: "After last week, when I said that they were happier when Hamilton won, something that everybody realised too, I think they are now being more cautious over their behaviour. And (at the American Grand Prix) we saw a more balanced delight."

Referring to sharing data with Hamilton, he said: "The team does a good job in that respect. Since he is in a new category and he doesn't know the tracks, on Fridays he gets all the data from my car and my laps so he can learn the circuit better and knows where the is to be found."

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