Alonso is back in Renault, and that’s the best thing that could have happened to him. Yesterday’s poll on formula1.com: Will Fernando Alonso win a Grand Prix with Renault in 2008, is not proper.

Fernando Alonso is not liked by a majority of formula1 fans because of two reasons:

• 2005-06: He was the one who denied Michael Schumacher world championship in 2005 and 2006. It was not acceptable to TFOSIs that someone other than Schumi can win the world championship, and all the blame went to FIA for changing rules(tyre), and Ferrari not performing well and other factors, there were a few who could appreciate Alonso’s driving and his abilities.
• 2007: there is no need to elaborate on this, ’07 was not his season, and he got tough competition from his teammate and was not supported properly by team. Still, it would have not gone wrong if he would not have acted like a cry-baby. Considering the situation, when Hamilton was playing with the press and challenging on the track, he could not control himself commenting or few situations and was portrayed finally as villain in F1. Main role in this goes to McLaren too, team was involved in biggest spy-scandal of all times, and they wanted the media attention to be diverted and Alonso helped them in that. Every driver faces this kind of situation somewhere or other in his life, but once he is on winning streak, people will forget about bad times.

Now bad times are over, Alonso is back in team where he is supported fully, he is ‘promised’ number one status, exit clause and highest salary amongst fellow drivers. Number one status in any team is must for the success, teams which portray themselves as ‘equal status’ are lying (sometimes to themselves too). Any fan who has seen F1 for one-two seasons will know that without number one status, always situation becomes complex.

2008 will be a different season for two reasons

• Traction Control: there would be no TC and driving skills will matter more than ever. This would be more of driver’s test than for the cars. How drivers can maintain the balance of car throughout the race, how they can save their tires and brakes etc. Definitely it will bring more fun and uncertainty for fans, but a challenge for teams. Racing teams who can cope with this well will succeed, and top teams if they fail to misread some important stuff can go to the back.
• Budget Cuts: Severe restriction on budgets will be enforced in 2008 which include testing limitations, wind tunnel restrictions, more aerodynamic constraints etc. These restrictions will definitely reduce the gaps between top and bottom, but maximum benefit would be for teams like Williams who will start challenging top order.

McLaren’s car is under scanner, and I am sure there would be issues with the car. Whatever new model will be out will not be as competitive as the current one.

I am not saying Renault and Alonso would bounce back to be world champions, but we cannot rule them out, there are so many factors in picture and Renault will definitely will have advantage in some.

We will see few new drivers, Timo Glock, Kazuki Nakajima, Sebastien Bourdais and Nelson Piquet Jr, who knows they also might start challenging their senior partners. Definitely no one can have dream start like Hamilton, but would be interesting specially without TC everyone will have same challenges.

Definitely TIFOSIs would be more satisfied with Kimi winning the championship by defeating Alonso rather than any other driver.