Briatore sounded confident but was reluctant to hold himself hostage to fortune.

"At this stage of the year, all you can do is create the wrong kind of pressure by announcing big targets," he declared.

"At Renault, we know we are a top team and that we have the ingredients we need to fight at the front in Formula One.

"Every year people write us off because we have to adapt to big changes. And in the last two years, we defied their expectations. We are aiming to do the same again in 2007."

"We have always said that our philosophy is that you need the right team to win, not just one person," Briatore said.

"This year is the chance to prove that our philosophy is the right one."

Fisichella has been eclipsed by Spaniard Alonso for the past two seasons, winning just one grand prix last year, while Kovalainen will be making his race debut in Australia on March 18 at an unfamiliar track.

Fisichella knows however that this year is his best, and maybe last, shot at the title.

"I'm really looking forward to this year," he said. "We've got a good package and there is a big motivation in the team. We want to win again both championships like last year and two years ago.

"I think we are already in good shape. This year I've got a very good opportunity to do well."

Kovalainen, playing down suggestions he has a real chance of winning from the start, said he was ready after spending last year as a test driver.

"I'm ready for the big challenge," he said. "Expectations are high, but so are mine."

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