Alonso's hopes lie in qualifying

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali fears Fernando Alonso's Formula One world title hopes could be scuppered this weekend unless his team give the Spaniard a fighting chance in qualifying.

Alonso goes into the final grand prix of the year in Brazil trailing Sebastian Vettel by 13 points, despite qualifying on the top two rows of the grid only once in the last nine races.

"We always say it, but we need to improve our qualifying pace," said Domenicali, in light of Alonso qualifying a dismal eighth in Sunday's United States Grand Prix. "We need to make sure in Brazil it is a different situation and it doesn't happen again."