World champion Fernando Alonso expects McLaren to be a bigger threat than Ferrari in tomorrow's European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring Alonso and his Enstone-based Renault F1 team have been the class of the field so far in 2006, but met their match two weeks ago at Imola when Ferrari's Michael Schumacher won his first race of the season.

The suspicion is Schumacher's Bridgestone tyres were ideally suited to Imola, and Ferrari will find the going tougher at the Nurburg- ring. Alonso, for one, suspects that will be the case.

He said: "Last year Ferrari were slow everywhere but at Imola really quick, maybe it happens the same this year.

"I hope they have problems with the car, the tyres and will not be quick. I expect more competition from McLaren than Ferrari this weekend."

Schumacher disagrees though, claiming Ferrari can again challenge for the win on his home turf.

He said: "I believe we are in position to fight for it. As we have seen, the competition is very close between at least three, if not more, teams who can certainly win the race.

"It is only up to who can get the maximum out of the package. If we can do so, we have a chance, if we don't, we don't."

Even though Renault have won three of the first four races this season, Alonso feels the competition is close behind.

The Spaniard is convinced he can bring home another bumper points haul in Germany, but knows he cannot let his guard down in the championship scrap.

"Last year we won the first four races with a nice gap, it was quite easy," he added.

"This year I think we have more competition. We need to take our opportunities now. At the moment it is playing well, we are getting a lot of points on Sunday afternoon.

"We are in a good position to try to win this race because the car is competitive and it is a circuit that I like. I am ready for Sunday.

"I think we can be competitive again here. We are in a good position today. The test at Silverstone last week gave good results.

"Last year we won the race here on the last lap.

"I think we will see a close fight again, it will be tough competition. We need to get the result."