Alonso keeps one eye on the title

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso will not concede the Formula One World drivers title to Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel.

Defending F1 title holder Vettel may have an 83-point championship lead over team-mate Mark Webber, with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton 88-points behind in third and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso a further 1-point behind in fourth, but Alonso will not give up until it is mathematically impossible that he cannot claim his third World title this season.

Realistically the championship is all bet dead and buried, but Alonso feels that he has a moral obligation to keep one eye on the championship hunt for the millions of Ferrari fans worldwide.

'We must try and win as many races as possible, We are realistic and the championship situation is what it is, but we have seen so often that there can be sudden reversals. And after all, we are Ferrari and we have a moral obligation, especially for the millions of fans spread around the world, to always think of the maximum goal. Alonso told Autosport Magazine.

'We can't ever say we will tackle eight races without having the championship in the back of our mind: we will always have an eye on the title, at least until there is no longer the slightest chance.

'Of course we must start winning and we have to hope that Vettel makes a few mistakes or has some problems.'

Fernando Alonso will require Ferrari to make fairly large steps forward in development if they are to compete with Red Bull and McLaren in the second half of this seasons championship.

The former two-time Formula One World Champion has won just one race this season, he has finished second on three occasions and third twice.

One of the reasons why Alonso has struggled to consistently battle at the front of races has been Ferrari's qualifying pace.

Alonso has only started one race from the front row of the grid which was back in Canada where he eventually retired after a collision with eventual winner Jenson Button.

He hasn't started on pole all season and his average qualifying position this season is fourth.

That needs to dramatically improve to give Alonso a better chance of taking the fight to McLaren and ultimately Red Bull.