With Michael Schumacher enjoying a well earned retirement after 12 years at the top, this year's Formula One season looks like being a straight battle between world champion Fernando Alonso and the German's successor at Ferrari, Kimi Raikkonen.
Alonso won the last two drivers' titles with Renault but will be lining up for McLaren in the opening grand prix of the season on March 18 in Melbourne, Australia -- a race he won last year.
"My target is obviously the title," said Alonso, who revealed recently that his next career goal was to become one of the F1 greats by winning a third drivers' title.
"What I have felt at McLaren is good professionalism, a team that is very determined and focused on the championship," he said. "While we clearly have strong opponents, I feel very positive and optimistic."
Alonso's main challenger Raikkonen failed to take the drivers' crown during his time at McLaren but the Finn now wants to prove he is a worthy replacement at new team Ferrari for seven-time world champion Schumacher by winning his first title.
"It wasn't my fault or because of any perceived lack of application on my part, but was due to the unreliability of my car," Raikkonen said of his failure to lift a title with Alonso's new team.
"Red is much warmer than silver," he joked.
While McLaren and Ferrari both seem confident going into the new season with their new main drivers, doubts remains as to whether the Renault pairing of Giancarlo Fisichella and Finland's Heikki Kovalainen can challenge at the top end this year.
Ferrari and McLaren have both put in better lap times during winter testing and Fisichella admits the French carmaker could struggle this year, even if Renault closed the gap during last week's testing in Bahrain.
"For sure, we are still behind Ferrari in particular, they looked very strong," he told Renault's official Web site.
"McLaren are a little bit ahead too and BMW are competitive as well, but I think we have made a good step forward," he said.
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