According to Fernando Alonso
Reigning Champion Fernando Alonso says he is one of six favourites to wear the 2006 crown.
The Spaniard, who has previously singled out Renault, Honda and Ferrari as the standouts of winter running, denied that he would enter the Bahrain opener as the hot contender.
``I will be among the favourites,`` Alonso, 24, told Spain`s daily Marca newspaper, ``but I am not the only one. I think there are six.``
He is probably referring to himself and Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault), Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello (Honda), and Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa (Ferrari), therefore possibly discounting the challenge of his 2007 team, McLaren, including `05 title runner up, Kimi Raikkonen.

But Alonso clarified: ``McLaren is not having a good pre season, and the team seems a little bit down, but it could all turn around if their car becomes quick.``

On the other hand, the Renault R26 looks mighty, with very few reliability concerns and impressive lap times.

But Fernando said: ``We are still missing a bit of (horse) power, and we can still keep working on the aerodynamics.``

Tags: grand-prix,