Alonso Says 4 Teams Will Battle for F1 Title in 2011

Michael Schumacher may aim only for podiums in 2011, as revealed in a recent interview with the Finnish media, but Fernando Alonso expects the German racer to be a contender for the world title next year. Talking to reporters at the season-ending Scuderia event in Valencia, the 2-time world champion made his first prediction of how the title fight will look like a year from now.

According to the Spaniard, this year's front-runners Red Bull Racing, McLaren Mercedes and Ferrari will be joined by a 4th strong competitor, namely Mercedes GP, this time with real chances of battling for the manufacturers' crown. As far as his own rivals for the drivers' title are concerned, Alonso still plays the quiet card.

“I really want to start again,” said Alonso while in Valencia, revealing that he wants to get back into the Ferrari challenger as soon as possible. “I expect four teams - us, Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull - will be in the fight for the top,” he added.

Alonso has just finished a season during which many agreed that he disclosed his true capabilities as an F1 racer. Regarded by the majority of the racers on the 2010 grid as the best active driver in the Great Circus, Alonso was able to remain in title contention until the last round of the season, despite driving the 3rd best car of the pack.

“I am proud of what the Scuderia managed to achieve this season. In a year when we did not have the best car, we managed to get to the last race still in with a great chance of winning the title after staging a really strong recovery,” added Alonso, according to ESPNF1.

“In a race like that last one, anything could happen, as this is a sport, not pure maths. The comeback we mounted from the mid-point of the season onwards, the way in which we all pulled together, more united than ever, is much more important.”