ALONSO DEFENDS SPAIN

Fernando Alonso has insisted that the country of Spain are not racist despite criticism when his team mate Lewis Hamilton got abused here during the preseason testing.He also said that there is no need to launch an anti racism campaign when the Spanish Grandprix is to be held at April.

Alonso's comments stem from an incident during a test session in Barcelona just over a fortnight ago when Hamilton was targeted by a small minority of spectators.

Widespread condemnation followed, with the FIA quickly adopting a positive attitude by saying they were "appalled" by the ugly scenes that unfolded at the Circuit de Catalunya.

But Alonso has joined forces with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who at the weekend stated the FIA's initiative was "unnecessary" due to what he perceived was "a one-off" incident.

HAMILTON SUBJECTED TO RACIST ASSAULT

Rookie Sensation of formula one Lewis Hamilton was subjected to racist assault at the Spain Testing held at Catalunya.Hamilton was subjected to racist abuse as he drove between the mclaren motor home and team garage.The Spanish F1 fans are unhappy at him as they think that he was the main reason for Alonso not winning the title last year.The FIA is said to be disappointed by the crowd's behaviour and they may take a strict action by stripping the Circuit De Catalunya off the F1 calendar.Last year in the drivers championship Hamilton finished second and Alonso who has rejoined with Renault finished third.

ALONSO IN SEARCH OF IMPROVEMENT

Alonso has said frankly that if their car is to be consistently present on the front end of the grid then the R28 car needs to be improved quickly.Renault had their new car launch at Valencia this saturday but they performed the big time testing a week earlier.The Spaniard, who is making his return to the team with whom he won both his World titles, put the car through its maiden trial on three of the four days.On the days three and four of testing the car was languishing in sixth and seventh places and one second off the target pace.Alonso expressed his concerns and asked for improvement.The double World Champion has urged Renault to resolve their difficulties before the season starts on March 16 in Australia.

FERRARI BOOST

Ferrari have emerged as the fastest car on the first official day of testing.Ferrari struck the first blow of the new year in the battle of the Formula One heavyweights.

Ferrari and McLaren both ran their new cars on the first official day of testing for 2008 following their unveiling last week.

And it was world champion Kimi Raikkonen, who clinched the title in dramatic circumstances last year, and team-mate Felipe Massa who topped the timesheets at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain.

After rain in the morning, the track dried out in the afternoon, with Raikkonen completing 59 laps overall with a best unofficial time of one minute 19.845 seconds.

Massa was just under 0.3secs adrift, with McLaren tester Pedro de la Rosa another 0.4secs off the pace in third place ahead of the Toro Rosso of Sebastian Vettel.

The second McLaren of Heikki Kovalainen was fifth overall, just over a second down on Raikkonen, while Sebastien Bourdais gave Toro Rosso a strong showing with sixth.

Lewis Hamilton, who missed out on becoming world champion by a point to Raikkonen, is on track on Tuesday and Wednesday alongside Kovalainen and is sure to push the Ferraris close.

Overall, nine teams tested, with only BMW Sauber missing out as they launched their new car in Munich today, along with Honda.

James Rossiter was unfortunately last of the 14 drivers due to a problem early in the day with his Super Aguri - with the team awaiting new parts - allowing him to complete just 10 laps.

ALONSO GOT IT RIGHT

Jarno Trulli believes Fernando Alonso made the right decision in returning to Renault.

Trulli spent two seasons as Alonso's team-mate at Renault in 2003 and 2004, before switching to Toyota towards the end of the latter year.

The French marque then helped Alonso become world champion in 2005 and 2006 before his ill-fated move to McLaren for last season.

An ignominious campaign culminated in a bitter fall-out between Alonso and team boss Ron Dennis, ultimately resulting in the 26-year-old being released at the end of the year.

Despite the saying, 'you should never go back', Alonso now finds himself in familiar surroundings again - despite the fact Renault endured a poor season by their previously high standards last year.

"Fernando is a champion, so we can expect him to be fighting at the front. But then Renault has to deliver a good car, which was not the case in 2007," said Trulli - speaking at the launch in Cologne of Toyota's new challenger for 2008, the TF108.

"I think last season they suffered the same problem as Toyota in that they under-estimated the tyre and the influence that had on the car performance.

"I'm sure they've been working hard over the winter to give him a good car, just as hard as Toyota have been working to give me and Timo (Glock) the best possible car.

"Obviously, I wasn't involved in his situation last season - so I don't know the full facts behind it.

"But it is clear things didn't go very well between them, and in the end they decided to split.

"Whether it is right or wrong, that is hard to say. But it's just a shame to see what happened.

"That's the way it is and better for him to have stepped back and returned to his old team."

There were suggestions Alonso's Latin temperament did not help in a team more accustomed to adhering to protocol.

"Whatever your character, you have to get on well with a lot of people in Formula One," added Trulli.

"There are so many people working on two racing cars, and you have to communicate well in this environment.

"Probably there was something wrong in the relationship, but I cannot judge.

"Of course, I am of Latin temperament as well - although probably a bit more polite and quiet. I try to get on well with everyone."

As the experienced older head in the Toyota team following the departure of Ralf Schumacher and arrival of rookie Glock, Trulli is aware of the responsibility on his shoulders.

With Toyota looking to end six winless seasons in F1, the 33-year-old Italian said: "I am the one who provides continuity - so the team will expect good feedback, especially in the first half of the season.

"But Toyota does not rely on one leader. We have never had, and never will have a leader, because the Toyota concept means you are part of the team - one team, one aim."

With 25-year-old German Glock on board, Trulli insists he is not under added pressure to perform.

"In Formula One there is always pressure. It doesn't matter who you have next to you or in front of you," he added.

"But I'm happy to have Timo on board, because he is very motivated and is someone who will help develop the car."

ALONSO DROPPED FROM MCLAREN

Mercedes has given the green light to McLaren to drop Spain's two-time Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso from the team for next season, a Spanish sporting daily said Thursday.

Mercedes bosses met in Germany "and reached the conclusion it is in the best interests of the company and the (McLaren-Mercedes) team to let go of the Spaniard at the end of the year," the Marca daily said.

The decision was motivated by the poor personal relations between Alonso and both his British team-mate Lewis Hamilton and McLaren boss Ron Dennis, Marca said, quoting sources close to McLaren-Mercedes.

It was "backed yesterday (Wednesday) by all the partners and the team," including Dennis.

"This situation means that all roads for Alonso lead to Renault," the team with which the Spaniard won world titles in 2005 and 2006, the newspaper said.

Renault "promised him a place with the possibility of winning the title and is currently taking steps to find the funds necessary to sign him on a contract equivalent" to the one he has with McLaren, Marca said.

It noted that Alonso could not join Ferrari, which has Brazilian driver Felipe Massa under contract through 2010 and Finland's Kimi Raikkonen to 2009.

The Spaniard fell out with Dennis and Hamilton over his treatment at the British team since switching from Renault.

As world champion he expected to be treated as number one and became increasingly irritated at what he perceived to be McLaren's favouritism towards Hamilton.

Rookie Hamilton tops the Formula One drivers standings, four points ahead of Alonso with the last race of the season scheduled for Sunday in Brazil. Raikkonen, in third place, also has a chance to take his first ever world title.