Renault driver Giancarlo Fisichella said this season was surely his best chance yet of becoming Formula One world champion and he was determined not to waste the opportunity.

ING Renault's Formula One drivers Giancarlo Fisichella of Italy (L) and Heikki Kovalainen of Finland pose for the media during the official presentation of the new ING Renault F1 R27 car in Amsterdam January 24, 2007. [Reuters]

The Roman will line up in Australia on March 18 as the French manufacturer's lead driver following double champion Fernando Alonso's switch to McLaren, who failed to win a race last year for the first time in a decade.

Fisichella's team mate will be Finnish rookie Heikki Kovalainen, who can be expected to take a few races to find his feet despite stepping into Alonso's shoes with a bright reputation as the coming man.

"Hopefully, it's not the last chance (of winning the title)," Fisichella, 34, told reporters at the launch of Renault's 2007 car on Wednesday.

"Let's say maybe it's the best chance I've had in my life and I need to do it."

The last Italian to win the championship was Alberto Ascari with Ferrari in 1953.

Fisichella, whose contract with Renault runs only to the end of this year, has started the last two seasons full of optimism.

Yet, despite having a world-beating car, he has ended each campaign in the shadow of Spaniard Alonso.

With the two quickest men in Formula One, Alonso and Finn Kimi Raikkonen, adjusting to new teams, and seven times world champion Michael Schumacher retired, Fisichella can hope again.

"I'm really confident already now, especially after the test (of the new car) in Jerez," he said. "We are confident that if we have built as competitive and reliable a car as the last two years, we can do well again."

Team boss Flavio Briatore backed Fisichella to succeed.

"He has all the possibility, all the technical support," he said. "You will see that Fisico this year is better...I'm sure Heikki will push him a lot.

"Fisico has a talent to win," he added.

"I'm sure this year is the year of Fisico, because Fisichella has the talent and now I'm sure he is more relaxed in the team."