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Alonso remains upbeat about title chances
Source: Agencies |
November 8, 2010, Monday
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FERNANDO Alonso remains confident he can win the Formula One drivers' title despite being outpaced by Red Bull and missing a chance to lift the trophy at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Alonso had a chance to win the championship at Interlagos but finished only third, behind winner Sebastian Vettel and his Red Bull teammate Mark Webber. The result cut Alonso's lead going into the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix next weekend. The Spaniard will have an eight-point lead over Webber, a 15-point advantage over Vettel and a 24-point edge over Lewis Hamilton of McLaren.
"I just need to finish second," said Alonso, who was 11 points in front of Webber before yesterday's race. "It doesn't matter who wins in Abu Dhabi if I finish second."
Alonso can even win the title if he finishes fifth or better and Webber doesn't win the race at the Yas Marina Circuit.
"The main goal for us is to be on pole on Saturday and to win the race on Sunday," the 29-year-old Alonso said. "If we cannot do that, because we are not quick enough, we try to be second. With that, the problem is finished."
He could have won the title with a victory in Brazil if Webber had finished fifth or worse. A second or third place also would have been enough had his rivals faltered.
Alonso started fifth on the grid but quickly moved up the field, first passing Hamilton and then Nico Hulkenberg, who had started on pole position with his Williams.
"We lost too much ground to Vettel and Webber, it took me several laps to get past Hulkenberg, while passing Hamilton is never easy," he said. "All things considered, I am pleased with this result. We have only lost three points to our closest rival."
Alonso was never able to get close to the Red Bulls, which have dominated the season and are not in a more comfortable situation in the drivers' standings only because of costly mistakes and driver errors during races.
"I think we have to see how the car performs there," Alonso said. "We will see if we can be in front of them."
He is expecting a "stressful weekend" in Abu Dhabi as he goes for his third trophy.
"We need to go very concentrated, very focused," Alonso said. "But this is Formula One and anything can happen."
Alonso won his first two titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006, both times at Interlagos.
Alonso had a chance to win the championship at Interlagos but finished only third, behind winner Sebastian Vettel and his Red Bull teammate Mark Webber. The result cut Alonso's lead going into the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix next weekend. The Spaniard will have an eight-point lead over Webber, a 15-point advantage over Vettel and a 24-point edge over Lewis Hamilton of McLaren.
"I just need to finish second," said Alonso, who was 11 points in front of Webber before yesterday's race. "It doesn't matter who wins in Abu Dhabi if I finish second."
Alonso can even win the title if he finishes fifth or better and Webber doesn't win the race at the Yas Marina Circuit.
"The main goal for us is to be on pole on Saturday and to win the race on Sunday," the 29-year-old Alonso said. "If we cannot do that, because we are not quick enough, we try to be second. With that, the problem is finished."
He could have won the title with a victory in Brazil if Webber had finished fifth or worse. A second or third place also would have been enough had his rivals faltered.
Alonso started fifth on the grid but quickly moved up the field, first passing Hamilton and then Nico Hulkenberg, who had started on pole position with his Williams.
"We lost too much ground to Vettel and Webber, it took me several laps to get past Hulkenberg, while passing Hamilton is never easy," he said. "All things considered, I am pleased with this result. We have only lost three points to our closest rival."
Alonso was never able to get close to the Red Bulls, which have dominated the season and are not in a more comfortable situation in the drivers' standings only because of costly mistakes and driver errors during races.
"I think we have to see how the car performs there," Alonso said. "We will see if we can be in front of them."
He is expecting a "stressful weekend" in Abu Dhabi as he goes for his third trophy.
"We need to go very concentrated, very focused," Alonso said. "But this is Formula One and anything can happen."
Alonso won his first two titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006, both times at Interlagos.
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