Red Bull's Vettel the key player for Alonso's championship chances

Fernando Alonso knew, as did Formula 1 fans and insiders, that his chances of wrapping up the 2010 drivers' championship at Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix were slim - albeit mathematically possible. But there is apparently no doubt in the Spaniard's head with regard to who will take the title at Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

"One-hundred percent," was Alonso's response after the Interlagos race when he was asked if he could take his third championship, after winning with Renault in 2005 and 2006. "I just need to finish second. It doesn't matter who wins in Abu Dhabi if I finish second."

After Sunday's result, Ferrari's Alonso is still in the lead on the drivers' standings, albeit with a slightly reduced advantage over second-placed Mark Webber. His Red Bull teammate, Sebastian Vettel, could hold the key to the final result on Sunday, should he find himself leading the race with Webber in second. Although the Red Bull team has prided itself all year on not issuing team orders, there are already suggestions and rumors that Vettel may let the Australian through should it mean the difference between Alonso taking the title or Webber.

"In that scenario, it is something you will think of," said Vettel of the upcoming situation. "I think it's clear."

The issue of team orders in Formula 1 is a thorny one, the practice being banned under the current regulations. Those rules, however, were breached by Ferrari at the German Grand Prix in July, when a none-too-subtle message was relayed to Alonso's teammate, Brazilian Felipe Massa, who subsequently let the Spaniard through, allowing him to win the race.

Since then, Red Bull's team boss, Christian Horner, has repeatedly made clear that his drivers are allowed to race as they see fit and that no such team orders will be issued, going on to criticize Ferrari's actions.

As such, Alonso was quick to point out after Sunday's race that Red Bull would now have to stick to that attitude, after having been so vocal in their criticism. "Red Bull has spent three months preaching about equality," he told TV channel La Sexta on Sunday night. "Now it is their turn to follow the same philosophy."

But whether or not there are team orders, one thing is for sure: fans of the sport will be delighted to watch the drivers' championship decided at the last race for the third time in four seasons.