Does Fernando Alonso deserve to be world champion?
Fernando Alonso is on the verge of winning his third Formula One world championship, but does the Spaniard deserve to be world champion for 2010?
Well, if we look at the points, then yes, he does, because he is eight points clear of Red Bull’s Mark Webber and 15 clear of Sebastian Vettel. Also, he has won the most races this season (five) and collected more points in the second half of the season (148) than any of his rivals.
Regardless of the form of the Ferrari driver, should he go on to win the championship, it will always be overshadowed by events at the German Grand Prix back in July.
Ferrari were fined $100,000 for breaking the rule on team orders when they instructed Felipe Massa to let Alonso through to win the race. Ferrari were summoned to a hearing in September, where they faced further sanctions, but they avoided having their points taken away from them.
It has left a dark cloud over Alonso’s achievement to get himself back into the hunt after he was 47 points behind the championship leader. Ex-president of the FIA, the sport’s governing body, Max Mosley said last week the championship would be “devalued” if he were to win by seven points or less.
Last year’s champion Jenson Button echoes the thoughts of Mosley, and thinks the title would be “tainted” if Alonso did win it.
“Some will be disappointed with what happened at Hockenheim and question whether he [Alonso] deserves it,” said the McLaren driver. “I just hope he wins it by more than seven points. I don't know who will win. It's very close. It's between Mark [Webber] and Fernando. Fernando is an exceptional driver but I wouldn't pick any of them. Whoever wins it, deserves it.”
Red Bull find themselves with both drivers in a position to win the championship, with Webber having the best chance. Team principal Christian Horner has insisted throughout the whole season that he would not use team orders, and Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has said he would rather lose the title to Alonso than use team orders in the final race in Abu Dhabi.
“To interfere with the drivers was never a possibility for us,” said Mateschitz, whose team were crowned constructors’ champions after the weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix.
Critics believe if Red Bull had done the same as Ferrari, then they would have been in their situation, but Mateschitz maintains they would never do such a thing. “We don't manipulate things like Ferrari do. The whole world condemned Ferrari after what they did in Hockenheim, but we have turned out as idiots because we did not act in this way,” he said.
“We never even thought about it as long as both our drivers remain in the hunt for the championship. It is not assured that Alonso will always be the lucky one. Abu Dhabi will be incredibly exciting and provide highest tension.
“So a second place under correct circumstances might be better than a win on grounds of orders and confirmations,” he added.
Everyone can have their say, but Alonso won’t care if he wraps the title up on Sunday.
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