By Phil Huff
January 22 2007

Double world champion Fernando Alonso feels that Jenson Button will be a challenger for this years title, following the retirement of Michael Schumacher. Double world champion Fernando Alonso feels that Jenson Button will be a challenger for this years title, following the retirement of Michael Schumacher."I think he can be one of my main rivals this year," explained the Spaniard. "I'm expecting him to have moved on."

Honda Racing F1 are one of just three teams continuing with their 2006 driver line up, alongside BMW-Sauber and Toyota. The only significant change in the team is the tyre supplier, but every team is facing the challenge of new tyre compounds and construction.

"Honda have got continuity, and maybe they can make something of that because this year it's down to the tyres," added Fernando. "Whatever team can get used to them quicker will have the advantage."

Despite his new team failing to win a single race in 2006, Alonso isn't writing off his chances of taking a third title for McLaren. Confident of the pace of the car, even if it proved somewhat unreliable, Alonso points out that the team itself is changing.

"There is a new atmosphere within the team," he commented. Given the team's choice of abandoning their usual low-key launch at a trackside in favour of a huge event in Valencia town centre, we'd not disagree.