BARCELONA, Spain, April 24, 2008 (AFP) - Local hero and dual drivers world champion Fernando Alonso on Thursday played down his fans´ hopes of victory or a podium finish in this weekend´s Spanish Grand Prix.

The 26-year-old Spanish driver from Oviedo said it was unrealistic to think like that and called it "a dream" to imagine that he and his Renault team could secure a top three result.

Alonso has finished on the podium in four of his last five outings at the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya, but this weekend says that run of points-scoring is over.

In 2004, he finished fourth.

He said: "Something strange needs to happen in this race if we want to reach the podium this time. This will be the first step we need to do this season to be close to the podium.

"We need to keep improving the car and this weekend will be the first opportunity to see if we are going in the right direction.

"It is true that every time I came here to my home GP in the past I had a possibility to fight for pole or victory.

"If not that, the podium was a real possibility. But this year it is not any more a real possibility, just a dream, as it was in the first three races." His Renault team are introducing several updates on their car this weekend in a bid to improve enough to escape from the midfield group of teams and join the front runners, Ferrari, BMW and McLaren.

"I think we made a step forward in terms of competitiveness of the car and we will see this weekend what is the result," said Alonso, who tested the car last week at the Catalan track.

"Last week, it was difficult to read anything into the times because of a mix of slicks and more, or less, fuel between teams. So, now we try and concentrate on our performance and our car and we will see.

"I think we gained a couple of tenths in the car so we will see if it´s enough, or not, to get us into Q3 and not have the problems we had in the first few races.

"I hope we can be regularly in the points. We need to raise our level and this is our starting point."

Alonso´s caution came hard on the heels of an optimistic message from the Renault team chief Flavio Briatore who predicted that the team will be fighting close behind BMW now.

The German team lead the constructors´ standings after the three opening races in Australia, Malaysia and Bahrain.

Briatore said: "It´s always good to think big. If the car works as we think, it will be behind BMW, but more or less at their level. And then Fernando will make the difference. Now we need to change our mentality to improve.

"I hope the result at Montmelo (a town close to the circuit) is important for all. Fernando will do everything possible and impossible to get it. I´d be very happy with a podium.

"We don´t think we are going to get pole in Barcelona. The important thing is to show signs of improvement. If a driver sees the car is improving, his confidence grows. We are hoping to improve not only in Barcelona, but also in Turkey and Monaco."

On Alonso, he added warm praise: "Fernando is working in an incredible way with the car. He is working with the mechanics, with the engineers. I think he´s better than ever. He´s matured a lot. And working together I´m sure we´ll move forward."