Fernando Alonso insists McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton is the clear favourite to win this year's Formula One world title. With a 12-point lead at the top of the drivers' championship, and with eight races remaining, the odds clearly favour Hamilton.

For the first time after two years at the top, Alonso is now the hunter rather than the hunted, leaving Hamilton to appreciate he is a target.

"There are still four drivers fighting for the championship," said Alonso. "All of them have opportunities to win, but the one with the best is Lewis because he's first and leading with 12 points.

"The second who has the best chance is me, because I'm second now, and then there is Raikkonen and Massa.

"The positions are always important and the points advantage as well, but that is the order of the favourites."

One sure-fire certainty for Alonso is there will be a number of twists and turns before the season is out. As the reigning double world champion, Alonso's experience could be crucial as the pressure starts to mount in the second half of the season, starting with Sunday's European Grand Prix.

"I have learned in the last two or three years that it is a very long season and it is very difficult to finish all the races," he added.

"At the moment I have finished all of them, as has Lewis, while Kimi has only had one retirement.

"But a retirement will happen to me, probably to Lewis as well as to Massa. These things happen in races, and if it does it changes a lot in terms of points.

"You can be lucky or unlucky in two or three races, but over the season luck is not a big factor - it is normally the best who wins.

"So I'm not worried because I will try my best in the championship to win as many races as I can, and I will not give up until the last moment."

Alonso's experience has taught him that, and as a man who knows exactly what it takes to win the world title - unlike his three rivals - there are those who say he has an edge.

"Experience will help for sure because sooner or later there will be some difficult weekends, maybe even this one," added Alonso.

"Maybe it will rain all weekend which will mean there are many opportunities to lose the race and not so many to win.

"That is when you have to keep calm and when experience will help.

"But even though I am chasing, my approach to races, my thinking and motivation will be similar to when I have been chased.

"It's not a big deal for me. Last season I had a 25-point lead to Michael (Schumacher) after the race in Canada.

"But then with two races to go we were equal, so I know how easily you can win points, but at the same time how difficult it is to win them.

"With many races to go, we need to keep finishing on the podium if we can. In that way the points will go up or down very quickly."