Fernando Alonso says Alpine is far from safe from McLaren in F1's Constructors' championship, and the Spaniard believes the fight for P4 between the two teams will go down to the wire.
While McLaren comprehensively outscored its rival in Singapore, courtesy of the latter's double DNF, Alpine returned the favor last weekend in Japan where it enjoyed a double top-ten finish while the papaya squad scored but a single point at Suzuka.
Alpine now holds a 13-point edge over McLaren, but Alonso believes it will be touch and go whether the French outfit can protect its lead until the checkered flag in Abu Dhabi.
"I think there’s going to be some weekends that we can score a few more points than them," Alonso said. "Some others, we will score less.
"I think Singapore was standing out because it was a big loss in points there. But I think it’s going to be very, very tight until Abu Dhabi."
And one reason the teams could remain locked in battle is an engine change and subsequent grid penalty for Alpine anticipated by Alonso.
The Spaniard has so far consumed five internal combustion engines, turbochargers and MGU-Hs, as well as four MGU-K, Energy Store and Control Electronics elements.
"I mean, we are maybe not completely safe until the end of the year," he admitted. "So, it is possible that we may have to introduce a power unit."
While Alonso is prudent in his outlook, McLaren team boss Andreas Seidl is a lot more guarded regarding the tussle between his outfit and Alpine.
The German reckons that McLaren will need flawless execution on all levels to have a chance to catch and overhaul its rival in the final events of 2022.
"It's important now for us really to focus on ourselves, make sure that we execute clean weekends, extract every single session the maximum that we have at the moment in our car," said Seidl.
"Only then do we have a chance to stay in the battle with a very strong Alpine team.
"We have to acknowledge they did a great job so far this season. It will be very tough for us to stay in this battle until the last lap in Abu Dhabi, but that's what we're here for."
While relative performance will come into play, reliability could be the deciding factor between Alpine and McLaren warns Seidl.
"Reliability will play an important part as well in the last races now," said the McLaren chief.
"But still I think we have a good car, we have a good team, we have two strong drivers, and if we get our act together, I'm sure we can stay in this battle until the last lap."
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