Spa-in's double world champion Fernando Alonso said on Thursday it would be unrealistic to expect to see him on the podium in his home Grand Prix this weekend.

"It will be very difficult this year," the Renault driver told a news conference at the Circuit de Catalunya where, two years ago, he became the first and only Spaniard to win a Formula One race on home soil.

"It is true that every time I came here to my home Grand Prix, I had the possibility to fight for the pole position and the victory. "If not, the podium was a real possibility always," he added. "This year I think it is not any more a real possibility, just a dream as it was in the first three races. Something strange needs to happen in the race if we want to reach the podium now."

Alonso finished third in Spain with McLaren last year after winning with Renault in 2006, finishing second in 2005, fourth in 2004 and second in 2003.