Ferrari and Fernando Alonso head to the penultimate race of the season looking for the ultimate prize – a third drivers crown for the formidable Spaniard.

Alonso’s fine recent form – a mixture of personal domination and almost predictable Red Bull hiccups, means that with two races left, he finds himself in a position not seen since two races into the season – the position everyone wants to be in. An Alonso win, with nearest rival Mark Webber coming no higher than fourth, would be enough to call himself as great as three time winners like the brilliant Jack Brabham, the incredible Ayrton Senna, and even the formidable Nelson Piquet. Though I could’ve sworn his second spell at Renault had already covered that one…

However, if becoming a triple champ was as easy as it sounds on paper, then quite simply there would be a whole lot more of them. Alonso’s biggest challenge comes, as per usual, from the Red Bull camp, assuming that they’re done with throwing away points for the year. It’s safe to assume that they will be as bullish as per usual, and freely caffeined up to go into a race where realistically, they have nothing to lose. OK, there might be a constructors title (which really should’ve been wrapped up by now), but this season will be remembered for the driver who managed to take the title, rather than the team who put him in that position. The same can be said for Alonso’s favourite enemy Lewis Hamilton,  so expect flat-out, all action racing for the all important first turn. Whilst it’s unlikely the Spaniard will be able to mathematically claim the title with a win, a collision and  non-finish would be a disaster. But anyone who remembers Alonso’s run of second places to take the 2005 championship will know he’s smart enough to pull while the field are busy pushing.

While the experience of two titles will benefit Ferrari’s matador, experience will also serve to remind us of just how good Felipe Massa is as a driver and a teammate at the Interlagos circuit. Massa’s run of three consecutive pole positions at Brazil was only broken by his horrific injury last season, and the only reason it wasn’t a run of three wins is because he gifted Kimi Raikkonen the title by giving him the lead in 2007. It seems far too easy for people these days to be referred to as ‘Braziliant’, but I struggle to think of any driver to have shown himself to be so useful around the Sao Paulo circuit.

Massa has already stated that he’ll do whatever possible to help Alonso to take the title, and when you consider the in-fighting between the Red Bulls, alongside Jenson Button’s crazy belief that he is still in with a chance, everything seems to point to Ferrari being able to really deliver in Brazil.

Let battle commence.

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