Alonso says honesty will pay off

MONZA – Defending drivers’ world champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso said he remained confident that the honesty of his Renault team would pay off in the end in what he alleged is a rigged title battle against Ferrari and Michael Schumacher.

He said he believed his two points lead with three races remaining – in China, Japan and Brazil – still left him as the favourite to retain his crown and prevent seven times champion German Schumacher from lifting an eighth title. He told Italian television: “I think we are strong and we are the favourites.We’re still ahead by two points.Let’s not forget it.There are many people who want to decide the outcome of the championship differently, but in the end the honest people will win.”It’s not just an unlucky race.It was a bit rigged from the start with an incredible decision and then the engine went: these things happen and it happened today.”The championship is getting close, but we must stay calm: we are very strong at the moment and I feel very confident for the last races.”Alonso started the race from fifth to 10th on the grid, following a penalty imposed by the stewards for an alleged blocking move on Brazilian Felipe Massa of Ferrari during Saturday’s closely contested qualifying session.Alonso battled through to run third with 10 laps remaining when he suffered his first Renault engine failure in three years.Schumacher, who announced his intention to retire at the end of the season, won the race.In his Renault team’s official statement after the race, Alonso was quoted saying: “We have three rounds to go and we will get stronger and stronger with new developments for the car, the tyres and the engine.”But the verdict this weekend is simple.The race was decided off the track on Saturday.”Earlier Alonso said he was buoyed by the massive public support he received after he was penalised and then hit out at the race stewards and Formula One, which, he said, he no longer regarded as a sport.He said he felt the sport’s ruling body, the International Motoring Federation (FIA) was trying to help Schumacher win an eighth title.”And not only me,” said Alonso when he was asked by Spanish television if he felt the FIA was helping Schumacher.”Everybody here thinks the same, and the only thing that encourages me is the support I’m getting from everybody.”Seeing the track marshals cheering and applauding me, telling me to beat the Ferraris, the Italian press saying it’s a robbery, that motivates me, but it’s no consolation.”I feel shame.I’m embarrassed by this sport.This is probably the most embarrassing moment in modern sporting history, what’s happening this year.”Alonso and Renault were livid that they had been punished again following a previous similar row over decisions taken against him at the Hungarian Grand Prix in August, where he was penalised for another infringement in qualifying, and the banning by the FIA of Renault’s controversial ‘mass damper’ system for their car.Nampa-AFPHe told Italian television: “I think we are strong and we are the favourites.We’re still ahead by two points.Let’s not forget it.There are many people who want to decide the outcome of the championship differently, but in the end the honest people will win.”It’s not just an unlucky race.It was a bit rigged from the start with an incredible decision and then the engine went: these things happen and it happened today.”The championship is getting close, but we must stay calm: we are very strong at the moment and I feel very confident for the last races.”Alonso started the race from fifth to 10th on the grid, following a penalty imposed by the stewards for an alleged blocking move on Brazilian Felipe Massa of Ferrari during Saturday’s closely contested qualifying session.Alonso battled through to run third with 10 laps remaining when he suffered his first Renault engine failure in three years.Schumacher, who announced his intention to retire at the end of the season, won the race.In his Renault team’s official statement after the race, Alonso was quoted saying: “We have three rounds to go and we will get stronger and stronger with new developments for the car, the tyres and the engine.”But the verdict this weekend is simple.The race was decided off the track on Saturday.”Earlier Alonso said he was buoyed by the massive public support he received after he was penalised and then hit out at the race stewards and Formula One, which, he said, he no longer regarded as a sport.He said he felt the sport’s ruling body, the International Motoring Federation (FIA) was trying to help Schumacher win an eighth title.”And not only me,” said Alonso when he was asked by Spanish television if he felt the FIA was helping Schumacher.”Everybody here thinks the same, and the only thing that encourages me is the support I’m getting from everybody.”Seeing the track marshals cheering and applauding me, telling me to beat the Ferraris, the Italian press saying it’s a robbery, that motivates me, but it’s no consolation.”I feel shame.I’m embarrassed by this sport.This is probably the most embarrassing moment in modern sporting history, what’s happening this year.”Alonso and Renault were livid that they had been punished again following a previous similar row over decisions taken against him at the Hungarian Grand Prix in August, where he was penalised for another infringement in qualifying, and the banning by the FIA of Renault’s controversial ‘mass damper’ system for their car.Nampa-AFP