Alonso: Title still a five-way fight

Twice world champion Fernando Alonso has claimed that the race for the 2010 drivers' title can still be won by any of five drivers.

Red Bull's Mark Webber leads with team-mate Sebastian Vettel and Alonso locked in second place.

But the Spanish driver has warned that McLaren-Mercedes team-mates Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button are still in the reckoning despite being 28 and 31 points adrift respectively at the top of the table.

"I still think that the fight for the title is open to five drivers," the 29-year-old said on his blog.

"Too many times this year we've seen someone come back into the game after they'd seemed out of it - and that could easily happen again.

"Having said that, perhaps the only one who can afford a bad weekend is Webber; for all the others it would perhaps mean giving up any chance, especially the ones who are a bit behind today."

Alonso added that he felt his podium finish in Japan was a solid result, despite the Ferrari driver trailing in behind the two Red Bulls.

"The outcome of the Japanese Grand Prix remains positive, even now in the cold light of day," Alonso said.

"We are in a phase of the season where one negative weekend can cost us dear, and to come away with a good third place from a race that we expected to be difficult was important.

"As early as Friday we understood that it would be difficult and, even if we knew what was coming, there remains a bit of regret that we couldn't fight for the win.

"In Korea we will have to attack, because now we must close the gap to Webber."