Emerson Fittipaldi has warned Fernando Alonso that new team-mate Nelson Piquet Jr will challenge him on the track - but he still believes that the double world champion will be in the mix for the title.
The Brazilian legend believes that his countryman has the pace to worry Alonso, and this, coupled with his knowledge of the Renault car, will present a difficult prospect.
"Nelsinho will be worse than Lewis Hamilton for Fernando Alonso," the triple world champion told Gazzetta dello Sport.
"Nelsinho drives excellently, he is very quick, and last year he did over 15,000km in testing with Renault. For all these reasons I think he will give Alonso more trouble than he got from the McLaren driver (Lewis Hamilton)."
Despite the threat Nelsinho poses, Fittipaldi is confident that Alonso will challenge the Ferraris and McLarens for the championship. Fittipaldi suggests that Alonso's prior relationship with Renault and the team principal will work in his favour.
"Thanks to Fernando, (team boss Flavio) Briatore in the past had the possibility of optimising the team's performance. If he manages to do that again, the Spaniard will be able to fight for the title."
Source : www.sportinglife.com
