Alonso: title would mean more than in '06

The McLaren driver, who last year beat now retired seven-time champion Schumacher to his second title, has endured a difficult season full of controversy.

Alonso is five points behind teammate Lewis Hamilton with fives races remaining, including tomorrow's Italian Grand Prix, where the Spaniard will start from pole position.

"Every race is important," said Alonso after qualifying when asked if winning the Monza race would mean more to him following the controversies.

"I'd like to win here because I have never won in Monza, and this track is very special.

"Above all I'd like to win this championship, which is being so controversial. Winning this championship would mean even more than last year's, when I was fighting against Michael (Schumacher), and that's what I'm going to try.

"It's harder than ever, but a bit closer than three or four races ago when we were 14 points behind.

"Now we are five behind, we have pole position. It's five finals and there won't be a gram of me that won't try it."

He added: "We didn't think we could fight for the title at the start of the year, seeing what McLaren had done in 2006.

"I had doubts about how the car would be, but we found a very good car that allowed us to fight for the title, although it's not being easy at all."