Alonso remains calm as Vettel closes title gap

Fernando Alonso insists he will not panic despite seeing his advantage in the drivers’ championship almost wiped out in one fell swoop at the Japanese Grand Prix.

The Ferrari driver arrived at Suzuka with a 29-point advantage over Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel, but a first-corner crash and a consummate triumph for his rival narrowed the gap to just four points with five races left.

Alonso made contact with the front wing of Kimi Raikkonen’s Lotus as he edged to the outside on the run down to turn one, puncturing a rear tyre and sending the Ferrari into the gravel before coming to a halt in the middle of the track.