Oct.21 (GMM) Fernando Alonso in Brazil refused to add more fuel to Spanish conspiracy theorists' fires.



One newspaper quoted an unnamed engineer as explaining that McLaren could easily have de-tuned the reigning world champion's Mercedes-Benz engine so that it was 3 or 4 tenths slower than British teammate Lewis Hamilton's in Interlagos qualifying.



"I am not going to create more controversy," he told Diario As after emerging as the slowest McLaren or Ferrari runner in the decisive session on Saturday.



"The story is that we are all very close, and you can easily be a little bit behind.



"It has not been a brilliant weekend for me. I did not master the car in any of the sessions."



Alonso did, however, suggest that relations between himself and the team are still not rosy by revealing that he was pushed to adopt the same fuel strategy as Hamilton for the grand prix.



"Yes, I wanted to do something else," he confirmed. "I do not agree with what I have."



Alonso said he thinks it is a "miracle" that, at the very end of a tumultuous and uncomfortable season at McLaren, he is still faintly in the running for the title.



"The other day in China I said it was an impossible situation for me. This is equally complicated.



"If I am champion it will be magnificent, and if I am not I will go with my head held high because I think I have done a good season."



Despite his pessimism for the Brazilian grand prix, Alonso vowed to fight hard over the 71 laps.



"I have to risk more than ever because I have nothing to lose," he said. "Kimi, as well. We will be the most aggressive drivers out there and I expect a very exciting finish."