Alonso, Hamilton stay focused

2007-09-10 11:34

Monza - McLaren's Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton remain focused on their tussle for the Formula One world title, despite the fact that their season could be over before the next race as a result of the Ferrari spy scandal.

"There are still four races to go and the fight is still on," Hamilton said on Sunday after finishing second to his teammate at the Italian Grand Prix.

Two-time defending F1 champion Alonso took the chequered flag for his 19th career grand prix triumph, fourth in 2007, and first at Monza. His victory also moved him to within three points of rookie Hamilton at the top of the driver's standings.

"Yes but nothing changes really," Alonso said. "The gap is more or less the same... and I think it will stay like that until the last race."

McLaren has a hearing before the World Motor Sport Council on Thursday which could result in a two-year ban for the team from Formula One - and end Alonso and Hamilton's season-long rivalry for supremacy on the track.

The International Automobile Federation called the hearing after it said it had "new evidence' in Ferrari's dispute with McLaren alleged espionage and attempted sabotage.

Competing

The case ignited in July when technical data about the Italian team's cars turned up in the possession of McLaren's chief designer.

That said, neither driver seemed to be entertaining that possibility of not competing in the remaining four races of the season.

"We will see the championship go down to the wire I am sure, and perhaps in the last race you see who comes out first," the 22-year-old Hamilton said.

Hamilton leads the series with 92 points, followed by Alonso with 89. Kimi Raikkonen is third with 74 points and his Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa is fourth with 69.

Raikkonen could only manage third place on Sunday, over 20 seconds behind the McLarens. BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld was fourth, followed by teammate Robert Kubica in fifth. Nico Rosberg of Williams was sixth.

"We were keen to win in front of our fans but we did not manage it," Raikkonen said. "We were not quick enough today (Sunday)."

However, he hasn't given up hope of catching his rivals in the title race.

"After the next two races (in Belgium and Japan) we will know if we have any chance or none at all," Raikkonen said. "It's not going to be easy because we lost some points again but you never know what is going to happen in the next races."

Massa didn't even finish at Monza. He retired on lap 10 with a rear suspension problem.

"I am very disappointed," Massa said. "It's horrible to see your chances go in the early stages because of a reliability problem."

In the constructor's championship, McLaren lead with 166 points, followed by Ferrari with 143 and BMW with 86.

The next race is on September 16.

- AP