Fernando Alonso waxes legs as F1 title race enters final lap
Formula One drivers are well-versed in the use of extreme measures in the pursuit of speed but Fernando Alonso, the 2010 championship leader, has taken things a stride further by having his legs waxed.
No one in the paddock here seemed quite sure of Alonso's reasons for shaving his legs ahead of Sunday's final race of the season. Certainly it will not make him any more streamlined inside his Ferrari, although it could make him cooler under his fireproof overalls.
However he is a keen cyclist and the smart money is on him following the long-standing trend for competitors on two wheels.
Lewis Hamilton, the 2008 champion, said tonight: "I'm surprised how he was able to take the pain of having his legs waxed. We noticed as we were walking in. Mark [Webber] pointed it out and was asking: 'How far has it gone up?' I was like: 'Wow, they are shiny.'
"So I'm impressed he can do that. That shows his mental state. But I think he has shown over the years how solid he is mentally. He just doesn't care. You ask him questions about Germany and he just doesn't care."
By "Germany", Hamilton was referring to the Hockenheim grand prix in July, when Ferrari issued coded orders to Alonso's team-mate, Felipe Massa, to give way to their No1 driver.
As a result, Alonso added seven extra points to his tally. And even though the manoeuvre was illegal, because team orders are banned in Formula One, and Ferrari were fined, the points were never taken away from the Spaniard.
At the weekend the current champion, Jenson Button, said of the prospect of Alonso taking the title: "Some will be disappointed with what happened at Hockenheim and question whether he [Fernando] deserves it. I just hope he wins it by more than seven points."
But tonight Alonso denied that if he won the title here – and he is the favourite to do so – he would be a cheating champion. He said: "Winning by seven, one or 25 points is not the most important thing in my mind right now.
"There is much to do on Friday and Saturday, preparing for the weekend in the right way. Our only goal at this moment is to win the race or finish second. That's the target and that's what I think we can achieve this weekend."
Alonso will become the ninth driver to win three world championships if he finishes in the top two on Sunday and, at 29, he would be the youngest to do so.
But Alonso would be denied by Mark Webber if the Australian wins and is followed by his Red Bull team-mate, Sebastian Vettel, in second. Despite denials about team orders from Red Bull, Vettel is under pressure to do the right thing by the team.
Alonso said: "Mathematically I'm in a position to win the championship, so from tomorrow our preparation will be to reach that target. If we are not first or second then we will see where the others are, but it's not my job to believe, or not to believe, in what Red Bull might do."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010...nso-legs-waxed
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Originally Posted by vcs316
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