» Alonso confident despite lack of engines

Fernando Alonso remains confident he can be a contender for a third Drivers; Championship crown in 2010 despite running low on his allocation of engines for the remainder of the season.

This weekend’s Italian Grand Prix is notoriously one of the toughest on Formula 1 engines, and the Spaniard has notably suffered a series of engine maladies this year that sees him having used six of his eight-engine allocation for the season.

It could be worse for Alonso, whose compatriot Pedro de la Rosa was issued with a grid penalty for changing to his ninth Ferrari engine of 2010 in his Sauber.

“We are confident,” Alonso told GP Week. “The plan of the engines is well in control at the moment. Fingers crossed everything stays like this and we know the programme for all the remaining races.

“It should be enough with the engines we have. If everything goes normal there is no problem.”

Of greater concern to Fernando is the current 40-point deficit to the championship leader, Lewis Hamilton, with just six races to run. The Ferrari F10 seemed to take a backwards step in competitiveness despite a considerable investment in developing the team’s car.

Additionally, Alonso has a nervous wait for the outcome of the FIA World Motor Sport Council’s hearing into the team orders case levelled against Ferrari, for allegedly conspiring to switch the running order between Felipe Massa and Alonso at the German Grand Prix.

[Original image via AUTOSPORT]