Alonso vows to help Massa win title

Oct.13 (GMM) Back to back grand prix winner Fernando Alonso has admitted he would assist the title challenge of Ferrari's Felipe Massa in the last two races of 2008.

After his disastrous tenure at McLaren last year, the Spaniard makes clear he is not barracking for the British team's Lewis Hamilton, who leads the points standings against Massa by 5 points.

In the official post-race press conference at Fuji Speedway, Alonso admitted he agreed with the stewards' decision to penalise Hamilton for his first corner incident.

The 27-year-old later told Italy's Sky: "I didn't know why he (Hamilton) had been penalised. After last year, I want Ferrari to win. I will help Massa if I can."

Despite backing Massa over Hamilton, however, Alonso admits he has not been overly impressed with either driver's championship campaign.

"They have thrown away many points," Spain's Diario AS newspaper quotes him as saying.

"After 16 races the leader has 84 points, but I had that many after 9 races in 2006," Alonso recalls.

Also unimpressed is the winner of multiple Champ Car titles Sebastien Bourdais, who lost his championship points at Fuji after stewards investigated his collision with Massa.

"He's fighting for the title and taking unnecessary risks like that, as he did with (overtaking) Webber as well.

"You've got everything to lose and nothing to gain. It is a sign of arrogance," the Frenchman charged.

Hamilton says Massa crash 'deliberate'

Oct.13 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has accused his championship challenger Felipe Massa of deliberately colliding with him during Sunday's Japanese grand prix.

Ferrari's Massa, now lagging 5 points instead of 7 behind the McLaren driver, was penalised for tipping Briton Hamilton into a spin that dropped him to the rear of the field at Fuji Speedway.

"I did the corner normally and he came back very aggressively and hit me. I think that was pretty much as deliberate as can be," Hamilton, 23, told reporters in a briefing some time after the end of the race.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis' reproaches against Brazilian Massa were more subtle, but the Mercedes chief Norbert Haug left the press in little doubt as to his suspicions.

Comparing Massa's penalty with that of Hamilton's botched first corner, the German said: "Lewis harmed nobody, but Felipe spun his direct championship rival and I doubt that is what the spectators want to see."

27-year-old Massa strongly denied that his move could be compared to the controversial title tactics of his mentor Michael Schumacher.

But he said even Hamilton's finger pointing will not hurt their amiable relationship.

"I will not do something to destroy something on purpose," Massa said.

In fact, Massa predicted that a few days of calm will alter his rival's perception of the incident. It was obvious after the race that Hamilton was furious with the events.

Referring to the stewards' controversial decision to penalise his attack at the first corner, Hamilton admitted: "My personal disappointment will be with the start and the second will be with the way I'm treated.

"Everyone braked late and I just went a bit wider than everyone else and, for some reason, I got a penalty for that. I can't honestly understand that."

Dennis adds: "The thing that really got to him was the penalty -- it really did. He was bitterly complaining about it in the car."