Published>Mon, Nov 08 10 10:57 PM
Formula One champion Jenson Button could not care less who takes his crown but fears Fernando Alonso could be a controversial winner.
Ferrari's championship leader was at the centre of a controversy in Germany in July, when Brazilian team mate Felipe Massa was told to let him through to win for an extra seven points.
The Italian team were fined $100,000 for using banned "team orders" but the Spanish double world champion kept his points.
With the sport now in an unprecedented four-way battle going into the last race of the season in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, a fight that could lead to the top three ending up tied on points, Button hoped the title would not be tainted.
Alonso is currently only eight points clear of Red Bull's Mark Webber and need only finish second in the final race.
"I don't care (who wins)," McLaren's Button told British reporters after fifth place in Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix ended his reign.
"It doesn't make any difference to me. It's exciting there's those three guys fighting for the championship at the last race. (McLaren's) Lewis (Hamilton) still has an opportunity but it's going to be very tough for him.
"I like the way they (Red Bull) have let their drivers fight, it's the way it should be.
"You fight all the way through your career to get into Formula One, to get into a good car... and you should be given equal opportunities.
EXCEPTIONAL DRIVER
"I don't know who will win, it is very close. It is between Mark and Fernando," added Button.
"Fernando is an exceptional driver. Some will be disappointed with what happened at Hockenheim and question whether he deserves it.
"I just hope he wins it by more than seven points."
Hamilton, the 2008 champion who is 24 points behind former McLaren team mate Alonso, said he would like to see Webber win if it could not be him.
"He's done a great job this year," said the Briton.
"He has been told by his team what position he is, and against adversity he has kept at it. I think he has done an awesome job."
Webber is second overall, seven points clear of Red Bull team mate Sebastian Vettel.
Webber complained in July of being a 'number two' at Red Bull and only last week accused the team of emotionally favouring Vettel, describing his own title challenge as 'inconvenient'.
"Mark's done pretty much everything right this year, apart from our little tangle," said Hamilton, who retired from the Singapore Grand Prix after a collision with Webber while fighting for third place.
"But then Vettel has been incredibly quick and Fernando has done a good solid job towards the end of the year, so it could go to any of them."
Hamilton, who lost the 2007 title by a single point to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen after the Finn clawed back a 17-point deficit, refused to give up all hope of another miracle.
"At the end of the day I've still a shot at it, so I will try and win," he said.
"I could be riding in fourth and all three of them might not finish. Anything could happen."
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