Alonso’s skill and determination shining through

Rare in the upper stratas of sporting genius are those who rightfully deserve to be so honourably tagged.

Not so Fernando Alonso, Ferrari’s hope for the long term, who has raised the level of achievement for the grand prix legends far beyond what was expected of him in a car drastically well short of domination.

The Spaniard has had to compensate with sheer skill and braveheart determination for his Formula One transport’s crucial lack of pace and performance and fend off failure under intensive pressure.

It is a situation that would have destroyed the confidence and willingness of most drivers faced with the same setbacks, but not Alonso. Oh no — and far from it. He has emerged with glory from a mess of uncertainty concerning the car and taken it and the team to levels they dare not have hoped for when this season kicked off.

The double champion — in 2005 and 06 — is currently second in the championship chase after setting the early pace and on Sunday is aiming to go one better than his second place behind Lewis Hamilton in last season’s Abu-Dhabi clash.

And that is despite the late-ish run by Sebastian Vettel, who is plotting a third world championship in the rampaging Red Bull.

Against all the odds Alonso, widely regarded, if somewhat reluctantly in some quarters, as the sport’s finest and most adept talent, has set a standard others may only envy. That’s why Ferrari have signed him for the rest of his career on £30m-a-year (Dh178 million).

His fighting back-to-the-wall attitude and gift of greatness has triggered the unswerving devotion and loyalty of his back-up team from the humblest tyre changer to Ferrari’s supremo Luca di Montezemolo. They would lay down their lives for him. And he for them. Metaphorically speaking, of course.

The 31-year-old exemplified all the accolades last week in India, when he drove from fifth on the grid to second place, passing the likes of Hamilton, Jenson Button and Mark Webber, all of them in superior cars.

That is the spirit he will carry to Yas Marina this weekend, looking for his 31st victory and fourth of this fantastic season.

Here’s a sample of his team boss Stefano Domenicali’s rave review after Alonso’s Indian takeaway of second spot: “It was an amazing race from Fernando. It was all down to his talent, his aggressive approach and the fact that he never, ever gives up or backs off.

“He will not slacken off by one centimetre and will be giving it his all until the chequered flag. He is a truly great driver and the team will be doing its maximum to give him a car worthy of his talent.”

Alonso admits: “We don’t have a car capable of winning — but that doesn’t mean I’ll stop trying.”

Resurgent wonderboy Vettel will certainly be on the look-out for his relentless pursuer in what is looking like a humdinger of a finale to a season never to forget.