Alonso dismisses Button’s tainted F1 champion fears

LONDON - Ferarri’s Fernando Alonso has dismissed claims that he will be a tainted Formula One champion if he claims this year’s title with less than seven points.

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

“I think winning by seven, or one or 25 points is a less important thing in my mind right now. People who do not understand F1 forget that it is about the team,” the Sun quoted Alonso, as saying.

Alonso was reacting to reigning champion Jenson Button fears that the Spaniard will be branded a tainted champion if he does not win 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.

“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,” Button had said. (ANI)