Formula One / David Croft / 26 February 2010 /

After a couple of years in the wilderness, the Spaniard is delighted with his new Ferrari and raring to go. David Croft considers the former-World Champion's chances of triumphing in 2010.

Fernando Alonso believes this years Ferrari is the best car he's ever driven. Even allow for a touch of pre-season bravado it's a bold claim from the double world champion.

The Spaniard's claims came at the end of the Valencia test as he held court with a media pack, salivating at the prospect of a return to the top for their superstar following two wilderness years since he moved back to Renault.

The Ferrari F10, the machine that Fernando is so excited about, flew out of the blocks to dominate the first of the four pre-season tests. However, there have though been a few reliability issues; the first morning in Barcelona this week yielded just 11 laps because of an electronics issue, although compared to some teams, Ferrari have been able to string together a decent amount of laps.

So is this the year to get behind the 'Prancing Horse' and it's double world champion? Is this the year that Alonso brings back the good times to Maranello?

I'd love to say yes. I'm a big fan of the Spaniard on the track (off it he sometimes leaves a little to be desired). In an interview with the Guardian this week he spoke of his time at McAllen and in particular his role in the 'Spygate' affair. In typical Alonso style there were no regrets, in fact he went as far as to say that he was happy to have helped the FIA discover what was going on.

There would be those who applaud Alonso for helping bring out the truth, I'm sure Ferrari were very grateful at the time, but were his motives purely sporting or the actions of a petulant man who, unhappy at the perceived better treatment of his young team mate, tried to blackmail his team into a corner with the governing body?

I've heard him referred to as 'Teflonso' in the paddock from time to time, given that whenever there's a bit of mud flying in his direction it never seems to stick. 'Crashgate' was another example. Did he really know nothing about the strategy call hatched by his team that resulted in Nelson Piquet crashing and him winning in Singapore in 2008? That truth will probably never come out, but all along he's maintained his innocence .

On the track, there's no doubting Alonso's superiority. Technically he'll guide Ferrari in the right direction, sportingly he'll put his car at the sharp end whether it's the best one out there or not. But for all the plus points there are question marks.

The Ferrari seems to be a decent car. Jenson Button has stated that they're the team to beat but there are fears that the engine is a thirsty one and should it need more fuel to complete the race than it's rivals, that could make a huge difference. Fuel economy, now that re-fueling is outlawed, has become a major issue this season.

The other major issue at Ferrari is how Fernando beds in and gets on with Felipe Massa. Already he's made positive noises about how his new team are nothing like McLaren and therefore he feels happy where he is. In that Guardian interview he spoke of how his father had told him that driving for Ferrari gives you a special feeling. "If you race for them", he said, "then you can retire. Your life is complete. Now, if that bundle of quotes isn't guaranteed to warm the insides of his new crew, then nothing is.

Ferrari have more than embraced their new signing, but the constant from three years ago is that Massa is embedded within the team and returns this season following an accident that on another day could easily have killed him.

Felipe is well liked within the team. He has worked tirelessly to improve results and because of the way that he has worked to improve his driving. But Fernando will want to be treated as a number one. That's the way it's been for him since he won his first Grand Prix for Renault in 2003. He'll will want the team to be working for him, after all he's the man who brings an extra six tenth's of a second in improvements with him, or so he claimed whilst at McLaren.

But whilst Ferrari owe it to their double world champion to give him the tools to win a third title, they also owe it to Felipe to try and win his first, and that emotional bond they have with the Brazilian could be impossible for Alonso to break down should he try to install himself as the top dog. How Ferrari handle the situation and how Alonso himself copes will shape their season.

Crofty's F1 odds update:
Fernando Alonso is priced at [3.95] with Betfair to win the Drivers Championship.
Felipe Massa is priced at [12.5].
The Alonso v Massa season match bet has Alonso at [1.25] and Massa at [2.5]

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