After fighting tooth and nail for the 2007 world title alongside British rookie, Lewis Hamilton, a fight they both lost to Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso believes that his former McLaren teammate could emerge the victor at the end of the upcoming 2008 championship that gets underway in two weeks time.

“Possibly, yes," he told the BBC about if Hamilton could win the crown this time out.

The two men battled it out in controversial circumstances last year finishing second and third to the Ferrari after dominating almost the entire season. However, Alonso is convinced that with a year’s experience under his belt, Hamilton will head into the new season better armed than last year.

"After one year's experience things become easier and that will give him an advantage. After a year, you know all the circuits and how the races go. You understand the pressures so there are many things that will give him an advantage compared to last year."