"He has the experience and if the car is competitive, and is better than the other cars, then for sure he will be one contender," the Spaniard told reporters at the Italian Grand Prix on Thursday.

Renault Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso of Spain speaks to journalists at the Monza race track in northern Italy, September 7, 2006. The Italian Formula One Grand Prix will take place September 10. [Reuters]

Renault announced on Wednesday that their Finnish test driver Kovalainen, 24, would partner Italian Giancarlo Fisichella at the team in 2007 as a replacement for McLaren-bound Alonso.

The rookie will be the first since Canadian Jacques Villeneuve in 1996 to make his debut with a leading team capable of winning.

Villeneuve almost won his first race in Melbourne, finishing second after starting on pole position, and ended the season as runner-up to Briton Damon Hill before taking the title the following year.

"I am quite confident that we can repeat the success that the team has had before," Kovalainen told a news conference at Monza on Thursday.

"I feel that I have done a good job this year already and the team knows what I can do."

Team boss Flavio Briatore, who has just signed up for another two years at the helm, said he believed Kovalainen was a champion of the future.

"There will be no bad surprises for him next year," he said when the appointment was confirmed.

"We are totally confident that he has what it takes to succeed at the highest level," added the Italian. "Heikki is a very bright talent for the future of Formula One."

"From the outside, Heikki is replacing a world champion -- and some people may assess him on those terms. But within Renault, we are approaching it as a fresh start and the beginning of a new era for the team.

"In our eyes, we are not losing a driver who has won the world title; rather, we are starting a new story with a future champion."