Alonso downplays his chances of title glory

Fernando Alonso is not getting his hopes up of pinning down his third Formula One World Championship title this season.

The Spaniard, World Champion in 2005 and 2006, has moved from Renault to Ferrari this year, making him a hot favourite for Championship victory.

But the 28-year-old has played down his chances of title success and insists he could be upstaged by the competition.

"I understand that people can be disappointed if I'm not Champion but I personally won't be," he told Spanish radio Cadena Ser.

"It's a sport, (Real) Madrid and Barcelona are the best (football) clubs in the world but they can lose the Champions League or a match. Not winning the Championship is completely logical and it would not be a disappointment."

Alonso was driving for Renault when he beat seven-time Champion Michael Schumacher to the World title two years in a row.

The Spaniard will reignite his rivalry with the German this season as the 41-year-old makes his comeback from retirement to drive for Mercedes GP.

Now at Schumacher's former stomping ground Ferrari, Alonso last week described the team's new F10 car as the best of his racing career.

The 2010 season gets underway in Bahrain on March 14.

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