McLaren threw down the gauntlet for an exciting battle with Renault for the constructors' title by setting the pace in practice rounds yesterday ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai tomorrow.
The practice rounds, in smoggy conditions in front of sparsely populated stands, dangled the prospect of a thrilling showdown between champion Fernando Alonso of Renault and Kimi Raikkonen of McLaren, in a race which will mark the end of the season.
Alonso and Raikkonen have unfinished business to settle when they start the 56 laps of the 5.45km Shanghai circuit.
Twenty-four-year-old Spaniard Alonso secured the title in Brazil to make him the sport's youngest champion.
His battles with Raikkonen have provided some of the highlights of the season so far, reminiscent of the classic encounters between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost back in the day.
It's a face-off worthy of John Woo. Renault has won seven of the 18 races so far and is on 176 points, two points ahead of McLaren, which has won 10 - including the last six races. If both teams finish level, McLaren will prevail as Raikkonen has one more win than Alonso.
