Portimao, Portugal  - If his optimism and his coolness are anything to go by, Fernando Alonso has half a Formula 1 title - the third of his personal count - in his pocket already, even before the 2009 season starts on March 29 in Australia.

In southern Portugal, where the year's first joint tests were being held until Thursday, only one word could take away the Spaniard's smile: Ferrari.

"I've been having to answer that question for five years," he complained at a press conference in the brand new Portimao circuit, when asked by a journalist.

Hamburg  - Former world champion Fernando Alonso has renewed his contract at Renault until 2010, the French Formula One team announced on Wednesday.

Team-mate Nelson Piquet Jr was given another one-year contract.

The Spaniard Alonso hopes to relive his glory of the past at the team for which he won the world title in 2005 and 2006. He spent the 2007 season at McLaren but was unhappy there and returned to Renault.

Sao Paulo  - Fernando Alonso was fastest in the final practice session ahead of qualifying later Saturday for Sunday's Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix.

The Renault driver clocked a time of 1 minute 12.141 seconds in for the 4.309-kilometres lap at the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo.

Championship leader Lewis Hamilton of McLaren-Mercedes was second fastest, 0.071 seconds slower than Alonso, with McLaren teammate Heikki Kovalainen third quickest.

Ferrari's Felipe Massa, Hamilton's world championship rival, was fourth quickest on the circuit.