Domenicali admits to engine concerns

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has revealed any engine failure for Fernando Alonso this season will mean the end of his Formula One world title hopes.

A driver is allowed to use a maximum of eight engines throughout the course of the 19-race season, a figure Alonso reached a few grands prix ago.

The team have since been eking out the mileage from previously used engines still in service in the hope Alonso can reach the end of the season.

One problem and a change of engine will see Alonso serve a 10-place grid penalty, and with his title hopes on the line, that is a consequence he can ill afford.

Asked whether Alonso is likely to run out of engines, Domenicali replied: "I really hope not.

"If that happens then it will be tremendously difficult to fight to the end.

"What we have been able to do is manage the mileage with existing engines, and this is our plan. Hopefully we will manage up to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

"If we have any reliability issues it will be really traumatic as it would be almost impossible then to recover the points we would need if we want to continue to fight with Red Bull and McLaren.

"We cannot really have any problems otherwise it is finished."

Domenicali admits the warmer conditions in Brazil and Abu Dhabi could pose a problem in comparison to the currently cooler climes in Korea ahead of Sunday's inaugural grand prix.

With the team unable to impose limitations on the engine, Domenicali added: "It is a matter of how much mileage you can do on an engine. This is the only thing.

"We have extended the use of it, but we need to be careful not to overheat anything, that in terms of temperature we are not aggressive.

"This is something we need to make sure above all for the hot races that we will have after Korea."