Every single person in the team is focussed - Alonso

The World Champion met the press in today’s FIA press conference. He explained the context of his remarks that had been misinterpreted earlier this week, and discussed the challenges ahead of him this weekend.

"Yeah, I said already in China it was not a misunderstanding. I think everything was clear. The tyres from the car, and from TV, the left front looks OK, but a lot of wear, obviously. Nearly a slick. And because the second stint was 22 or 23 laps long we thought that maybe it was risky to leave that tyre on and maybe to wear it too much and so we decided to change the front tyres.

The first couple of laps are always difficult, you have to scrub them and to get them into condition but this time we took nine or ten laps to clean up the front tyres and I lost all the advantage but it was just for safety reasons. Afterwards, looking at the tyre, maybe it was OK, like Giancarlo and Michael, they kept on their tyres and they worked fine. Probably in my case it would have been exactly same but it's only after the race (that you can be sure). At that moment, with 20 seconds gap, it was no risk to put a new tyre on and lose a couple of seconds just for safety."

"No, not a problem at all with anybody. I think all the rumours I think... Also there is a funny story from Germany that Fisichella was going to Michael's party after the race and Fisichella was there and I was angry with him and the team. There are always rumours that they try to put there but there is nothing true. What I felt there is that maybe I had a problem with the car that was a specific problem for ten laps, nine, eight or whatever, and probably I felt alone, for sure.

I was first and my team mate was second and they came to me, they overtook me and they were gone. And after, when I recovered the pace, they were too far (ahead), and for sure it is like you are in the Tour de France in the mountains, climbing, you have a puncture or whatever and your team and your rival has gone uphill with no stops. That was a little bit difficult to understand."

"Well, the last days I was in Shanghai until yesterday, just training and relaxing and switching off. Switching on is quite straightforward I think. There is nothing to think in the last race. The same thing happened to me in Monza, after a frustrating Grand Prix, whereas after China, we were in pole position, we did a perfect race apart from these ten laps: quickest in the dry, quickest in the wet so it was not difficult to switch on again to be fighting for the approach to the Grand Prix again.

Here is the same thing. We switch on tomorrow in free practice and we stay concentrated all Grand Prix. We need to beat the Ferraris now, here and in Brazil, and I think we can do it. We have a perfect car now, perfect tyres, Michelin is giving us a fantastic tyre for both dry and wet conditions so we should be able to do it."

"I think it's a difficult question. I think the team does the maximum they can. They are giving me a fantastic car, winning last year's championship and fighting this year, and what the team does every race is unbelievable and thanks to that, we are equal in the Drivers' and ahead in the Constructors', so for sure the team is giving us a fantastic car for Giancarlo and me, but for sure, on some occasions, in a different view and a different approach, I felt a little bit alone."

"We try to have a good fight on the circuit and have a lot of respect for each other and Michael has been the driver with more titles, more wins and more pole positions and (he is) a legend in Formula One. So, it is good for me to fight with him in the last two races of his career and, you know, as we were doing all year, all season long, it was fantastic, and to arrive equal for the last two Grands Prix it is good for everybody, good for the championship and for the people and for us, as well, because the value and satisfaction for the winner of the last two races will be even bigger."

"Well, you know, I had two difficult moments this year, one in Indianapolis, where I was not competitive, and one in China, where for 10 laps I was completely off the pace and losing four seconds a lap and, you know, these two moments, maybe, in my opinion, in team play, maybe, I should have had more help."

"I don't know. I don't know. I fight with Fisichella in the last corner, Turn 14, once and he overtook me and I overtook him again because he went a little bit longer and these things, these risky moments … Three races to win the championship… your team mate is a little bit … (It's) not good enough, I think."

"I think he did in this lap good enough because I don't know what he means – Fisichella tried to overtake me and the cars (being) side by side on the straight was to overtake me, so there was not any team play – even the opposite."

"All the team, all the people, are really focussed for the championship and anyway we have been leading both championships all season nearly and now the last two races all the people is motivated and the atmosphere inside the team is just super and it's the last two races of me in the team as well and every single person in the team is just focussed on the championship."

"No, not… For sure, for the team, (it) is more important the constructors, but they want to win them both. For sure"

"Not really. I think the approach for the race is always to try to win the races and it is all the teams are here for – and, sometimes, if you have a problem, the teams normally try with other drivers to win the race because it is what we are here for... But, as I said, sometimes if you are fighting so close for the championship the frustration is bigger…"

"Not any more. With the V10 last year, it was flat-out last time for some laps and with the V8 it will be flat out and not a corner anymore so this year it will be a lot easier."

"I think this is Formula One and it is a lot more than that. Yes, we say that because the difference that the tyre makes to the car is bigger than anything else that you can change and for sure now with the cars at their maximum level of development and maximum performance, the two or three-tenths that you can find in the tyres one weekend can make you win or lose and I think that is what we mean when we say that – that we are dominated by tyres, the key factor of the championship now in the last races, but from the beginning of the season the championship is very long and you have to take a more general view of the championship – 18 races you need to be constantly on the podium and you need to perform well all through the season and it Is not only a tyre factor and I think it is fair because Formula One is technology and everything motor sport so you to be now in Michelin or Bridgestone hands is also quite normal."

"The same for me - it has been a fantastic feeling and a pleasure to be in Suzuka because it is one of the most difficult circuits in the world and it is a super-challenge circuit not only for the drivers, but the engineers, the tyres, engine and for sure we will miss this kind of track, especially Suzuka, but new circuits will come in and for sure a new good as well."

"I don't know. I don't want to be in any polemic with this thing. I only said my opinion and my feeling and completely understand the position of the team of how the race went. I am happy I am second place and you know I lost the race because my pace was not good enough in ten laps, but a part of this you know I have a different feeling maybe inside."

"No, not at all. I think we have to risk, we need to approach the race thinking of the maximum performance and take the maximum from the car and if arrives this unfortunate moment that you don't finish for sure try to don't make Michael win because the championship is over, but anyway if I don't finish here or in Brazil, the championship will be over anyway. So we need to finish both races and both in front of Michael and this is what we have to do. It is not easy, but it is not impossible."

"Well, 2004 I did wet qualifying and I start 12th and 2005 I had a wet qualifying again, like the last four cars on the grid, and I start 16th and for sure the lack of qualifying and always starting from 10th or over is not a help here at Suzuka so hopefully with a normal qualifying here this year and a competitive car I can try to win and I know the statistics (for me) are not good here in Suzuka, but I try to change it this time. "