Alonso: Constructors' Title Not Crucial

The Spaniard clinched his first Drivers' Championship in Brazil last month but the constructors' title will be decided at this weekend's season-ending race in Shanghai.

Renault have 176 points to McLaren's 174 but Alonso played down the significance of securing a memorable double in China on Sunday.

"For me it's already a perfect season, even if we lose the Constructors' Championship," Alonso told reporters. "I can't ask for more than this from a season.

"If we win the constructors' it's okay. If not it's okay. It's important for the image of the team and a little bit for the hype for next year but really not a crucial point."

Alonso has won six Grands Prix this season while Finnish rival Kimi Raikkonen stormed to his seventh victory in Japan at the weekend, giving McLaren their sixth win in a row.

The Spaniard said Raikkonen's recent dominance did not put him under extra pressure to match the Finn's total for race wins this year.

"I will try to win the race but not because Kimi won seven," said Alonso. "I don't care how many the others win. If everything stays like this I will be happy because I won only one race less than the best car in Formula One."

Poor Reliability

McLaren have been quickest over the latter part of the 2005 season after suffering from poor reliability earlier in the year.

Alonso finished third in Suzuka behind Italian teammate Giancarlo Fisichella as Renault climbed above McLaren to open a two-point lead in the Constructors' Championship.

"We were too far away from them in the last part of the Championship," said Alonso. "Suzuka was the first time I saw equal conditions to them.

"We don't know if the car will be as good as it was at Suzuka. I think we improved the car in the last three or four races."

He added: "We have a new engine for this race as well so hopefully we can close the gap even more. I think if we are close enough to them, we can beat them."