Alonso now happy to help Massa

Fernando Alonso has said he will do what he can to help Ferrari's Felipe Massa beat Lewis Hamilton to the Formula One title after winning the last two grands prix for Renault.

"Yes, without doubt. If I can help, I will help Massa," Spanish newspapers quoted the double world champion as telling reporters after Sunday's victory in Japan.

Alonso, whose win at Fuji came two weeks after his surprise triumph in Singapore, fell out with championship leader Hamilton in an ill-fated 2007 season alongside the Briton at McLaren.

The Spaniard, who has been persistently linked to an eventual move to Ferrari, could become a factor in this year's title showdown if he continues to challenge for the podium in the remaining two races.

The 27-year-old has now scored more points (35) than any other driver in the six races since the German Grand Prix in July.

Hamilton has taken 26 and Massa 25 in the same period.

Hamilton is five points clear of Brazilian Massa, whose team-mate and world champion Kimi Raikkonen is now out of contention, with only this weekend's race in China and the season-ender in Brazil still to come.

Massa, a favourite to win his home race in Sao Paulo, ideally needs a Ferrari one-two in Shanghai with Alonso rounding out the podium to make the necessary inroads into Hamilton's tally.

BMW-Sauber's Robert Kubica is the third man left in the title hunt, 12 points off Hamilton who can expect no help from that quarter after the Pole criticised the Briton's driving before Sunday's race.

Raikkonen returned to the podium on Sunday for the first time since Hungary in August, ending a run of four races without a point, but many Brazilians suspect he may not be Massa's strongest ally on the racetrack.

Meanwhile, Alonso's enduring hostility towards McLaren and Hamilton was evident in Fuji when the top three drivers were asked whether it was right for Hamilton to have been handed a drive-through penalty for his start.

"I agree," Alonso said immediately, while Kubica and Raikkonen both said they did not have a clear enough picture to comment.

"I don't know what he did," the race winner told reporters later.

"But it's good he's punished anyway."