MELBOURNE, March 16, 2008 (AFP) - Double world champion Fernando Alonso gave Renault a big lift in the first race of the Formula One season with a fighting fourth place behind Lewis Hamilton in the Australian Grand Prix here on Sunday.

The Spanish ace, who left McLaren after a troubled season last year to rejoin Renault, fought his way through the mayhem of a chaotic opening race to claim fourth spot just ahead of the charging McLaren number two driver Heikki Kovalainen.

Alonso admitted before the opening race that the Ferrari and McLaren cars would be quicker than his Renault in early season races, but he gained admiration within the French team for bringing home five hard-earned points and an early-season edge over Ferrari.

"That was a very strange race with lots of overtaking, incidents and mechanical problems for lots of drivers," Alonso said.

"We were able to make the most of the opportunities that came our way today and finished the first Grand Prix with a good result, which will give the team a boost and give us confidence for the rest of the season."

Alonso left McLaren after a bitter feud with teammate Lewis Hamilton last year and returned to Renault, where he won the world drivers' title in 2005 and 2006.

Team chief Flavio Briatore was delighted with Alonso's first drive back for Renault and forecast good times ahead.

"Fernando's fourth place is an excellent omen for the start of the season. He drove a superb race, fighting all the way from the back of the field.

"In particular, his overtaking of the McLaren (Kovalainen) in the closing stages was spectacular.

"We still have to work, but it is encouraging to see that we are not the only team that needs to improve."

Renault's other driver, Nelson Piquet Jnr, was hit on the start line and finally succumbed on the 30th lap.