Motor Sport: Renault's Formula One champion Fernando Alonso expects to be on the podium for the rest of the season. The Spaniard told reporters at the French Grand Prix that he felt sure his worst result of the year was behind him.
Alonso, 19 points clear of Ferrari's Michael Schumacher after 10 of the 18 races, finished fifth in the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis on July 2nd, ending a run of four wins and 15 podiums in a row with his lowest-placed performance since he was 11th in Hungary a year ago.
"Indy is a very special race for us, it has never been good, and I'm totally confident that it will be the worst result of the year," he said. "From now on, we should be on the podium again constantly."
Schumacher won in Indianapolis, his third victory of the season, and has said he still believes a record eighth championship is possible.
But Alonso was dominant in France last year and believes only a lack of reliability on Renault's part will allow Schumacher a sniff of success.
" Kimi (Raikkonen of McLaren) thought last year that he could catch me when he was 25 points behind - it's the normal motivation for the guy who is behind the leader," said the Spaniard. "Michael will think it until the last moment in the championship."
Alonso ended up winning last year's title in Brazil with two races to spare and threatens to wrap up the title even earlier this time around.
Despite his healthy points advantage, and six wins in 10 races, he promised there would be no let up.
"We need to attack, to win races," he said. "The more races that we win, the better it will be for the championship. Magny-Cours has always been a competitive track for Renault so it's a great opportunity to win."