Renault


2006 car: Renault R26.

Engine: Renault.
Tyres: Michelin.

Team Base: Enstone, Oxfordshire, and Viry-Chatillon, France.
Team Chief: Flavio Briatore.

Technical Director: Rob White.
Test Driver: Heikki Kovalainen (Finland).

First F1 GP: GB 1977.
Last Year: 1st, 191pts.

History.
Races: 192. Points 721. Wins: 25.

Best ch'ship position: 1st, 191pts (2005).


1 Fernando Alonso


Born: July 29, 1981, Spain. GP debut: Australia 2001. Starts: 69. Wins: 8. Poles: 9. Fastest laps: 3. Points: 247. Best ch'ship position: 1st, 133pts (2005).


2 Giancarlo Fisichella


Born: Jan 14, 1973, Italy. GP debut: Australia 1996. Starts: 159. Wins: 2. Poles: 1. Fastest laps: 2. Points: 174. Best ch'ship position: 5th, 58pts (2005).


Efficient, reliable and quick throughout winter testing, the champions look to be in great shape to defend their crown.


The negative publicity surrounding Fernando Alonso's move to McLaren in 2007 has not disturbed the equilibrium of Formula One's youngest world champion one iota.


Alonso's control in the car and out of it is remarkable for one so young, treating the two imposters, triumph and disaster, as Kipling instructs, just the same.


The Renault engineers have assimilated the new V8 engine with the minimum of fuss, giving Alonso and team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella every chance to prosper.