Alonso admits title battle with Schumacher is now personal

FERNANDO ALONSO admits his world championship struggle with Michael Schumacher is now personal.

The Renault driver, who ended Schumacher’s unbroken five-year run of success by taking last year’s crown, is being hunted down in the standings by the Ferrari ace.

Over the last four races, Schumacher has slashed Alonso’s advantage by 15 points to just 10 heading into the final five races of the campaign.

Neither driver is prepared to give an inch, as seen by Alonso’s fist-waving antics in Germany and his contribution to a Schumacher penalty in Hungary.

Alonso said: “There is a healthy respect from both of us but as saw in Magny-Cours we don’t want to be second. This is good competition.”

Alonso was again involved in an incident when practice for the Turkish Grand Prix began today in Istanbul.

The 25-year-old was given a qualifying penalty last time out in Hungary for swerving in front of Robert Doornbos and the two clashed again today.

Alonso darted down the inside of the Red Bull tester and the pair collided, although the Spaniard played it down.

“I didn’t expect to have any problems,” he said. “I overtook three or four cars today and I was overtaken by five or six.

“I didn’t have any problem with them but Doornbos had three or four incidents. We were on the straight together, I was fast on the straight because my car was quicker.

“We braked together and both locked the front tyres. We lost control and we touched but we were lucky there was no damage on the car and we carried on.”

That incident capped an indifferent day for the world champion, who was 12th on the timing sheets after sitting out the morning’s activities.

He is not too concerned by that form, even though he admits Renault must find speed if they are to match Ferrari.

He added: “I know sooner or later I will have the chance to increase the gap in the championship which is the important thing. I think my time is coming.

“Today Ferrari were strong. We will have different tyre and normal fuel tomorrow, so it is not finished yet.”

Schumacher was predictably content after two top-six efforts.

He said: “I am quite satisfied with the way things went. The fact that I set my fastest time at the end of the session and therefore on used tyres is a good sign.”