Alonso blames Renault for missing front row.

World champion Fernando Alonso was an unhappy man after qualifying in Melbourne, and pointed the finger of blame at his Renault team after missing the opportunity to join Honda's Jenson Button on the front row.

The Spaniard had apparently asked the team to let him pass team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella in the final qualifying session, and had to be placated by team boss Flavio Briatore, who asked him to forgive the team for a misunderstanding over the radio. Alonso signalled his acceptance with a nod and continued to the hospitality area for something to eat but, after a short lunch with Briatore continuing to talk to him, the points leader had clearly not forgotten the matter.

"I lost four-tenths in the last sector because of traffic, but that's not the principal reason for being on the second row," Alonso moaned, "Giancarlo was on old tyres in the last few minutes, and I was on new ones. He was only on track to waste fuel, but I was trying to do my best lap before the rain began to fall.

"I pushed the radio button and asked the team to tell him to let me pass, but no-one answered me. I did it again between the first and second corners and, again, there was no answer from the team. I was surprised. It wasn't Fisico's fault and, just after turn five, he opened the door for me. He told me after the press conference that he didn't know that I was on new tyres, so I didn't blame him for this."

It was a very different reaction towards the team, which Alonso feels has not given him the best chance of taking a pole position in the first three races this year.

"For sure, I have had bad luck with the strategy on Saturdays," he continued, "In Bahrain, during my best lap, they were talking to me all the time, asking about changes in the set-up; in Malaysia, they made a big mistake with the fuel, putting 104kg in my car for the good lap; and, here in Albert Park, there was this problem with the radio... That's three official sessions with three different troubles between the team and I. I guess that's F1 but, for sure, I hope the next races will all be okay."

Despite his disappointment, Alonso was generous enough to recognise Jenson Button's pole position, despite having admitted prior to qualifying that he would not want to start alongside or behind the Briton.

"Yesterday, I said that the worst thing for me would be to have Jenson in front - and now it's true," he sighed, "He was quicker than anyone and did a fantastic lap. Now we must to wait for his strategy, and see how much fuel he has in the car. For sure, he will have a good race."

Alonso was not as complimentary about the McLaren drivers, who will line up fourth and fifth behind Button and both Renaults.

"It's okay to have them behind me in the grid," the world champion smiled, "They didn't have a good start and I was sure to overtake them if I was on the back row. Now, with these positions, they are not a trouble for us. The only one I fear is Button, but I will try to overtake him in the first corner. I will study him on the grid before the lights go down, but the first corner is so fast that it will not be so easy to overtake."