Fernando Alonso believes he can prevent Sebastian Vettel taking title in Singapore

The Spaniard is Vettel's closest challenger in the championship standings, albeit 112 points behind, and can stop his Red Bull rival being crowned in Singapore if he finishes on the podium - irrespective of who wins the race.

Alonso knows that his titles hopes are all but over for the year, but says that it will not stop him pushing as hard as he can for wins.

"Singapore is always a very special circuit," he said during a live video chat on Ferrari's website on Thursday. "It is a street circuit with all the characteristics we normally like.

"We were quick in Monaco also this year. I still think in Singapore that we have the possibility, the chance, of being competitive.

"So our aim, when we arrive to Singapore, will be to win the race. After practice and qualifying we will see where we are exactly. But now, before the race, there is one clear aim - which is winning."

With Ferrari now devoting all its resources into ensuring its 2012 car can hit the ground running next year, Alonso does not see much chance of delivering a run of results that could overhaul Vettel.

"I think in this part of the year, with the advantage that Vettel has, winning the title is not mathematically impossible but it is extremely difficult. We will fight to get second place in the championship, which is better than fifth, and try and enjoy every Sunday as we did in Monza - where we qualified fourth, attacked aggressively at first corner, fought in the race and then enjoyed the podium."

And Alonso said that the fact that he is currently second in the world championship - in what he has been a disappointing campaign for Ferrari - shows how much better things should be in 2012 if its car delivers on its promises.

"Our expectations are always very high," he said. "We are Ferrari so we know that we need to keep fighting, and we need to be competitive.

"The world championship is the main target every year, because you race for the best team in the world. Next year we will start again preparing the winter and the season in the best way possible, and try and fight for the world championship.

"This year we did not complete our expectations. We were not quick enough in some parts of the year, and we struggled a lot with the 2011 car. Even with these problems we are second in the championship so that shows our aims and ambitions to reach our targets."