Renault ace Alonso remained out of reach thanks to McLaren’s poor reliability, which cost Raikkonen several likely wins and ultimately dashed his title hopes.

This year the 24-year-old faces a similar situation with Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher edging back into the championship scrap – but he is sleeping easier at night.

“Last year was more tough than this year but the final result of this year maybe will be tighter than last year,” he said at Hockenheim, venue for this weekend’s German Grand Prix.

“McLaren was half a second quicker than us, it was impossible to beat them - only if they had mechanical problems was it possible to win. This year with Ferrari, some races we win, some they win. It is more equal.”

Alonso is far from underestimating his opposition though and claims Schumacher is a better driver than ever at the age of 37.

Schumacher has rewritten Formula One’s record books during a glittering career but Alonso refuses to countenance any thought that the German great has lost his edge.

“I think in this sport as you get old it is not that important,” he said. “Maybe you lose reflexes but only a small amount.

“You have a big experience advantage every year. At the end of the day it is very difficult to be going down. You are a better and better driver every year, even at 37 years old.”

Schumacher has already proved that point with consecutive wins in the United States and France, which see him arrive on home ground at Hockenheim on the crest of a wave.

He has closed to within 17 points of the championship lead and has a spring in his step again, although Alonso brushed aside that rediscovered confidence.

“They were very confident after Imola and Nurburgring and I won four consecutive races,” he added. “Confidence in Formula One is not really very important.

“The important thing is how the car works every grand prix, it is so different every race. This will happen for the rest of the season – it will be full of surprises. We will approach each weekend not knowing what is going to happen.”

Schumacher is wary of getting carried away by his recent success, especially after his false dawn earlier this season when consecutive wins did not herald a change in the balance of power.

“To fall over the edge is very easy,” he said. “We have seen it in other races. You really have to take it race by race.”

But if Schumacher expects a home crowd to give him a lift in Sunday’s race, he will be disappointed according to Alonso.

The Spaniard enjoyed an emotional victory in Barcelona earlier this year but wants to deny Schumacher his own moment of triumph this weekend.

“The home grand prix is not like soccer, in Formula One it doesn’t matter where you are,” he added.

“It doesn’t matter how motivated you are being at home. If we win here it is important because it is Michael’s home grand prix and it is good to stop the consecutive victories. The sooner we stop these victories the better.”