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Alonso sees Canada as benchmark for season

Fernando Alonso currently leads the drivers' championship by three points © Press Association

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• Race:
• Canadian Grand Prix

• Drivers:
• Fernando Alonso

• Teams:
• Ferrari

Fernando Alonso believes Ferrari will be competitive for the rest of the season if the F2012 is quick at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve this weekend.

Despite having started the season with a car that appeared well off the pace, Alonso finds himself leading the championship after six races. Ferrari has updated its car substantially since the mid-season Mugello test, focusing mainly on traction and top speed, and Alonso believes that any remaining weaknesses will be highlighted in Canada.

"I think we have improved the car in these areas since the beginning of the season and Canada will be a good test in this respect," Alonso told the official Ferrari website. "Hopefully this weekend we will see a competitive Ferrari and that will be very important for us, not just for this race but also for the rest of the season."

While admitting that he's pleased to be top of the standings at present, Alonso said that he is only interested in being top at the end of the year.

"Leading the championship is only the beginning; it's a starting point, because the ultimate target is leading the championship after the final race in Brazil in November. It's a long championship and the first six races brought us enough points to be in the lead, but we are well aware that we have to improve. We need to make the car faster, working hard, while making no mistakes and finding consistency, which is not the easiest thing to do in this championship.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.