Alonso backs Raikkonen as champion

LONDON, England -- Deposed F1 champion Fernando Alonso says Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen deserves to succeed him as title holder and he would be 'embarrassed' if the crown went to Lewis Hamilton on appeal.

Finn Raikkonen won his first world title by a single point from McLaren's 22-year-old Hamilton after finishing first in Sunday's season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos.

BMW Sauber and Williams were later found to be in breach of regulations regarding fuel temperatures -- sparking speculation that Nico Rosberg, Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld, who finished fourth, fifth and sixth respectively, could be stripped of their points.

That would have promoted Alonso's British team-mate Hamilton from seventh to fourth and handed him the F1 crown in his rookie season.

Nearly six hours after the race, Formula One's governing body, the FIA, decided that there was not enough evidence to penalize neither the drivers or the teams.

McLaren notified the FIA of their intention to appeal the race stewards' decision, but Alonso told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser: "If he (Hamilton) wins the championship due to this, it wouldn't be fair and I would be embarrassed for this sport.

"I'm not sure what he (Hamilton) would think -- I guess if they give you the title, you don't think it's a present but rather that you deserve it. He would be delighted."

Double champion Alonso, who finished third in Brazil, insisted: "Raikkonen is the deserved champion. If you have more points, you are the deserved champion just like in football.

"He (Raikkonen) has won six races and Hamilton, like me, has won four."

Hamilton, who could have clinched the title in the penultimate race in Shanghai but for tire trouble, started second on the grid in Brazil but a bad start coupled with a gearbox issue on lap eight saw him drop down to 18th position.

He fought his way back through the field as his technical problem eased only to fall agonisingly short of his target.

Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo told Italian media McLaren's appeal is "a pointless stress".

He continued: "The rules consider that if any other car is punished, it doesn't mean that others will get points given automatically."

Alonso is tipped to return to Renault where he lifted back-to-back world titles in 2005 and 2006 although he told Spanish radio the move back to the French team next season is not his first option. E-mail to a friend