Alonso must win by ‘more than seven points to avoid being branded tainted champ’: Button

LONDON - Reigning Formula One champion Jenson Button fears that Ferarri’s Fernando Alonso will be branded a tainted champion if he does not win this year’s title by more than seven points.

Button was referring to Alonso’s victory at July’s German Grand Prix when his Ferrari team broke the rules by ordering their other driver Felipe Massa to cede his place.

Ferrari was fined 65,000 pounds, but Alonso had escaped a points deduction.

Alonso will bag the drivers’ crown if he finishes second in Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

“I just hope if he wins it then he does so by more than seven points. Some will be disappointed with what happened at Hockenheim and question whether he deserves it,” the Sun quoted Button, as saying.

The 30-year-old further said that other than Alonso, he would support Red Bull’s Mark Webber to win the title.

“I don’t know who will win, it is very close. I’d say it is between Mark Webber and Fernando. But I like the way Red Bull let their drivers fight. That is the way it should be,” Button said. (ANI)