We will fight to the end: Alonso

[1]

With just days to go for the final race of the 2012 Formula One season at Sao Paulo in Brazil over the Thanksgiving weekend, the championship is still up in the air. Ferrari’s leading driver Fernando Alonso, currently at second position with 260 points just a shade below Sebastian Vettel who tops the table at 273, says a podium finish would be enough to clinch the title, provided Vettel doesn’t win the race or finish five positions below Alonso.

Talking to Deccan Chronicle on the sidelines of a joint press conference by Kaspersky Lab and Ferrari, a day after the Austin US Grand Prix at the New York Science Academy, World Trade Centre, Alonso openly expressed his disappointment over the Ferrari racing car this season.
“We didn’t have a super competitive package this season but still managed to be in contention thanks to team behind the scenes. I must say the team of engineers and strategists did a fabulous job considering the fact that we didn’t have a car to reckon with as against others who have done well for themselves,” he said.

Alonso went on to say: “There are 71 laps to go that will decide the final outcome. The efforts of several months will all come down to a very short space of time. Then what will happen, will happen and the important thing is that we do everything perfectly. We know that a place on the podium alone could be enough. I have confidence in myself and in the team and we will fight right to the end.”

‘Yet to sign a contract’

Although Alonso jokingly said that he was going back home to fix doors, windows and escalators as he was yet to sign a contract for next season, he did subtly mention he would do better for Ferrari next season as the racing team would be in pursuit of fixing the car. It could mean that Ferrari retains him for 2013 even as strong rumours are making the rounds that Vettel may well join Ferrari in 2014 as his contract ends with Red Bull that year.

On the Brazilian GP Alonso said: “We will have a few small updates, but the others will have done the same, so the situation won’t change much. Maybe finding a good set-up can make the difference or the way the car suits the circuit.”