Ferrari's Fernando Alonso was setting his sights Monday on finishing second in the Formula One title race after conceding that it is "impossible" to catch runaway championship leader Sebastian Vettel.
Alonso finished third as Vettel sped to victory Sunday in the Italian Grand Prix. He lies 112 points adrift of the reigning world champion in the drivers' championship.
Despite 150 points still available in the final stretch of the season, Alonso said he was not expecting a miracle.
"There are six races to go, so the championship is impossible — not mathematically, but we are no longer in contention," Alonso said. "We will now simply try to enjoy every race, to go for individual victories and fight for second place in the championship."
Alonso, who won the world title in 2005 and 2006, was pipped to his third championship by Vettel in the last race of the 2010 season.
But he accepted his fate this season, with the German accelerating away from the rest of the field from the first race this year.
"It's always better to finish second than fifth, so I will try to get second place, as I did last year," Alonso said. "We must stay cool and concentrate and try to reach targets that are within our reach. There is still great motivation because, as I say, we want to win races and to defend my position in the drivers' championship."
