Alonso expecting equality with Hamilton in Brazilian decider

FERNANDO ALONSO is confident of receiving the equality he seeks ahead of what is likely to be his final grand prix with McLaren.

The Brazilian Grand Prix represents the last enthralling race of the year on Sunday — a cliffhanger involving championship leader Lewis Hamilton, Alonso and Ferrari star Kimi Raikkonen.

It is the first time since 1986 a championship showdown has gone down to the wire and involved three drivers, and on that occasion it was Nigel Mansell who missed out on glory.

Twenty-one years on, and this season’s duel has been overshadowed by Alonso’s insinuation he is not receiving the same treatment as Hamilton following a bitter fall-out with the team.

That has led to FIA president Max Mosley appointing the ‘fair-play police’ as an official from the sport’s world governing body will oversee all that unfolds in the McLaren garage over the weekend.

It smacks of hypocrisy that Alonso should desire the team to be even- handed when only two months ago he demanded number one status over Hamilton otherwise he would reveal all he knew in relation to the spy case.

But Alonso believes the recent plea from Carlos Gracia, the head of the Spanish motorsport federation, to Mosley on his behalf will ensure McLaren are impartial this weekend.

“I am sure we are going to Brazil with full equality across the team and two cars capable of fighting for victory in the race and the championship,” said Alonso.

“Although I am now only four points away from Lewis, I still need for there to be a lot of circumstances in my favour for me to win the drivers’ title that are out of my control.

“But for sure I will be doing everything that is under my control to make it happen. I have to do my bit and then hope everything else falls into place.”

Alonso won his 2005 and 2006 world titles at Interlagos, and he concedes the track “has a lot of great memories”.

Although Alonso trails Hamilton by four points, with Raikkonen a further three adrift, many are backing the Spaniard to beat the Briton to the crown due to his experience.

One such person is former mentor in Renault boss Flavio Briatore, who has made no secret of his desire to have Alonso driving for him again next season.

“If he is not contracted to another team we would be happy to have him back at Renault,” remarked Briatore.

Whatever happens on Sunday, it is almost certain Alonso will not be around at McLaren next season, although a suggestion the Mercedes board have voted him out has been denied by the German car giants.

But Mercedes Motorsport boss Norbert Haug has not ruled out the possibility of an early split with Alonso.

“If someone expresses his absolute resolve to not want to do something, then there are ways to manage that,” Haug told German magazine Stern.

“But we have a contract, and after the last race of the season we will see what the situation is.”