Alonso urges ‘more’ from Michelin

WORLD champion Fernando Alonso called on Michelin to give him “something more” for the last two rounds of the Formula One season after a tyre change wiped out his championship lead yesterday.

The Spaniard had a comfortable lead and looked set to extend his advantage over Michael Schumacher in the title race until a decision to change his front tyres at the first pitstop let the Ferrari driver through to win the race and draw level on points.

“For sure today we lost one big opportunity, I had these laps when I was completely off the pace and too slow and I think the race finished then,” Alonso said.

The 25-year-old has now gone seven rounds without a victory and seen the momentum switch to Schumacher, the winner of five of the last seven.

Alonso is confident he can prevent Schumacher taking an eighth title into retirement with him but the young Spaniard will be looking for improvements for the last two races — starting in Japan next week.

“For Suzuka and Brazil we need to believe in our tyres,” he said. “At the moment both cars, the Renault and the Ferrari, seem very similar in terms of performance.