Tyres the key as championship hangs by a thread

WORLD champion Fernando Alonso has called on Renault’s tyre manufacturers to pull out all the stops ahead of the last two races of the season.

The Spaniard missed out on an opportunity to strengthen his hold on the title at the Chinese Grand Prix.

He came home second, behind a rejuvenated Michael Schumacher, at the Shanghai International Circuit, yesterday, with the German moving to the top of the standings in the battle for the drivers’ championship.