Fernando Alonso rejects tainted title claim

The Spaniard also shrugged his shoulders to the possibility of losing out on a third crown on Sunday to the sort of team tactics that helped him to an eight-point lead over Red Bull's Mark Webber.

Appearing at a packed news conference with the rivals who have made the Abu Dhabi season-ender an unprecedented four-way battle for the championship, Alonso refused to fret about the past or future.

Gifted a win in Germany in July when Brazilian team-mate Felipe Massa was ordered by Ferrari to let him overtake and secure an extra seven points, Alonso was asked about the worth of a title won by less than that amount. "Winning by seven, one or 25 (points] is not the most important thing in my mind right now," he said. The 29-year-old, who won his previous championships with Renault and would be the youngest triple champion, will take the title if he finishes first or second at Yas Marina. Should he finish third and behind the two Red Bulls, the Spaniard will also be champion if Sebastian Vettel wins ahead of Australian Webber.

The expectation is that Vettel would allow Webber victory to take the title in such circumstances, although the German youngster again teased reporters when asked what he would do.

Alonso said he would lose no sleep over what might or might not happen. "I will not use one second of my energy this weekend thinking what is going to happen on Sunday afternoon," he said. "Our only picture at this moment is to win the race or finish second."