Raikkonen 'is the right champion'

Raikkonen has the support of his fellow Finn Kovalainen

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen should retain his Formula One world title, despite McLaren's forthcoming appeal against the result of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

That is the view of Renault driver and BBC Sport columnist Heikki Kovalainen.

"Kimi is the right champion. I don't think you can put it down to luck. He was the strongest driver over the year," Kovalainen said.

Lewis Hamilton could become champion if McLaren win their appeal against the BMW and Williams cars in Brazil.

McLaren are complaining about the decision not to punish the teams after their cars were found to have been filled fuel that was too cold.

If Williams and BMW Sauber are excluded for the fuel irregularities, Hamilton could be moved up to fourth place, which would make him champion ahead Raikkonen.

Kimi has never been the chattiest guy in the world but he can be very funny and he's a very smart guy Heikki Kovalainen

Governing body the FIA's International Court of Appeal will hear the case on 15 November.

But Kovalainen believes the result should remain unaltered with Raikkonen confirmed as the 2007 world champion.

Kovalainen said: "It's fair to say that in the last few races Kimi was the strongest one. All of them had a bad race at some point, all made a few errors. But Kimi really was the strongest driver throughout the year.

"The right guy won it. I don't know all the details about the appeal, but let them sort it out and if there's anyone to blame and there is a guilty party let them face the penalty accordingly.

"But I really hope it doesn't change anything. I guess it needs sorting out but I hope the championship result stands."

Raikkonen has a poor public image because of his monosyllabic approach to interviews, but Kovalainen says his countryman is misunderstood.

"Kimi is a really nice guy," Kovalainen said. "He is very honest and fair and never gets involved in things that aren't his business.

"People in F1 like him because what you see is what you get. He's never been the chattiest guy in the world but that's how he is.

"He's got a really good sense of humour. I get on very well with him and he can be very funny. Whatever people say about him, he's a very smart guy.

"I see things said about him and they make me smile, but he never gets involved in a war of words or anything.

"Sometimes, he says things in a clever way and it shows his intelligence."

Alonso and McLaren agree to split

Alonso's relationship with McLaren broke down this season

Former world champion Fernando Alonso has left McLaren after agreeing an early release from his contract.

McLaren and Alonso have had an acrimonious relationship this season and a team statement said that both parties had "agreed to move on".

Alonso is free to join another team in 2008, and his agent said neither party would pay a financial penalty.

Red Bull and Renault are the favourites to sign him, and BBC Sport understands Red Bull are the more likely option.

Alonso's relationship with McLaren soured following a series of rows with team boss Ron Dennis this season.

I know there have been suggestions of favouritism within the team but in the end I was always provided with an equal opportunity to win Fernando Alonso

McLaren described the split as a "mutual parting of the ways", adding: "Both parties believe that this was the right decision.

Alonso said: "Since I was a boy I had always wanted to drive for McLaren, but sometimes in life things do not work out. I continue to believe that McLaren is a great team.

"Yes, we have had our ups and downs during the season, which has made it extra challenging for all of us, and it is not a secret that I never really felt at home.

"I know there have been suggestions of favouritism within the team and people say a lot of things in the heat of battle, but in the end I was always provided with an equal opportunity to win."

Dennis added: "He is a great driver but for some reason the combination of McLaren-Mercedes and Fernando has not really worked out, and in the end we reached a stage where none of us could find a way to move forward."

It is not known who will replace Alonso as Lewis Hamilton's team-mate, but Williams's Nico Rosberg and Renault's Heikki Kovalainen are the favourites.

Alonso finished 2007 tied on points with team-mate Lewis Hamilton and only one adrift of Raikkonen.

He joined the team this season on a three-year contract worth a total of 50 million euros (£34.7m).

But he spent much of his time at McLaren under a cloud.

His initial misgivings about the level of support McLaren were giving to Hamilton, who was in his debut season this year, soon degenerated into a series of rows with Dennis.

These became public in the course of the spy scandal that rocked the sport this season, when McLaren were fined $100m (£49.2m) and thrown out of the constructors' championship after being found guilty of being in possession of confidential Ferrari documents.

Alonso became central to the story when, in a row with Dennis at the Hungarian Grand Prix in August, he threatened to reveal incriminating e-mails to governing body the FIA.

Although Alonso soon apologised, Dennis had already phoned FIA president Max Mosley himself, starting the chain of events that led to McLaren's punishment.

McLaren boss Dennis and Alonso had a difficult relationship

Following those events, the relationship between Hamilton and Alonso also deteriorated, with both saying they would rather not partner the other again for another season.

Both men later said the antagonism between them had been overplayed by the media.

It has been widely speculated that wherever Alonso ends up next season, it will be for only a year before moving to Ferrari.

Ferrari last month extended Felipe Massa's contract to 2010, which appeared to end the possibility of Alonso joining in 2009 because Raikkonen is also contracted to the team for another two years.

But Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo is known to be a fan of Alonso, and said after the conclusion to the championship last month: "Alonso is world-class in every sense.

"I have appreciated very much his sportsmanship. He lost by one point and I believe it wasn't his fault."

It is possible that a vacancy could be made for Alonso by paying up Massa's contract at the end of next season.

Alonso offered return to Renault

Alonso (left) and Briatore during their time together at Renault

Renault chief Flavio Briatore has offered Fernando Alonso a deal to return to the team which helped him win the 2005 and 2006 world titles.

Alonso has left McLaren and speculation suggests he could move to a team for a year before a switch to Ferrari.

But Briatore says Renault are not prepared to be an interim measure.

"I have presented a project for the future to Fernando," Briatore told Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport's website.

"If his desires coincide with ours, it can happen.

"I know how much he can still give Renault. But an agreement for one year would have no sense with an outlook projected for a period of time."

Giancarlo Fisichella and Heikki Kovalainen are currently the drivers at Renault, who finished third behind Ferrari and BMW in the constructor standings last season.

Lorenzo lands Yamaha MotoGP ride

Lorenzo has earned his chance in MotoGP Spain's 250cc double world champion Jorge Lorenzo has been confirmed as Valentino Rossi's MotoGP team-mate at Yamaha next season. Lorenzo, 20, who won this year's 250cc title for Aprilia, finished seventh in Sunday's season-ending Valencia GP. Yamaha have also said that five-times MotoGP champion Rossi would change tyre manufacturer to run on Bridgestones in 2008. Lorenzo will use Michelins. Rossi had problems with the Michelins on his bike for much of this season. Yamaha said that in order to ensure confidentiality for each tyre company, the two riders would have separate pit boxes and managers. Rossi, 28, came third in this year's championship behind Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa. He was forced to drop out of the Valencia race on Sunday with a technical problem after deciding to ride with a broken hand sustained in a qualifying crash. It was the first time the Italian has finished outside the top two in any category since he was ninth in his rookie season in the 125cc class in 1996.

Engine failure wrecks Rossi hopes

Rossi had to settle for third place in the final standings

Valentino Rossi's brave decision to take part in the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix was ruined when an engine failure forced him out of the race.

The Yamaha rider, who broke three bones in his hand in Saturday's qualifying, lost second place in the Championship to Dani Pedrosa as a result.

Honda's Pedrosa started on pole and won the race by more than five seconds from new champion Casey Stoner.

Rossi had not finished outside the top two in any category since 1996.

That was when he came ninth in the 125cc in what was his first season.

"I am very happy, I didn't expect this," Pedrosa told BBC Sport. It made the Spaniard the first rider to win in all three classes in Valencia.

Stoner finished top of the final standings with 367 points after winning 10 of the 18 races on his Ducati. Pedrosa was second on 242 with Rossi third on 241.

Suzuki rider John Hopkins was fourth in the overall standings after finishing third in Valencia.

Although Pedrosa started on pole for the fourth successive race Stoner overtook him off the grid but the Spaniard regained the lead on the sixth lap and never relinquished it.

Rossi started the race in second-last place but managed to work his way into a points-scoring position before being forced to stop with 11 laps remaining.

---

Result:

1. Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda 46 minutes, 43.533 seconds
2. Casey Stoner (Australia) Ducati 46:48.980
3. John Hopkins (US) Suzuki 47:03.937
4. Marco Melandri (Italy) Honda 47:08.360
5. Loris Capirossi (Italy) Ducati 47:09.337
6. Chris Vermeulen (Australia) Suzuki 47:09.395
7. Alex Barros (Brazil) Ducati 47:13.003
8. Nicky Hayden (US) Honda 47:13.866
9. Randy de Puniet (France) Kawasaki 47:14.428
10. Toni Elias (Spain) Honda 47:14.563

Final championship standings:

1. Casey Stoner (Australia) Ducati 367 points
2. Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda 242
3. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha 241
4. John Hopkins (US) Suzuki 189
5. Marco Melandri (Italy) Honda 187
6. Chris Vermeulen (Australia) Suzuki 179
7. Loris Capirossi (Italy) Ducati 166
8. Nicky Hayden (US) Honda 127
9. Colin Edwards (US) Yamaha 124
10. Alex Barros (Brazil) Ducati 115

Rose claims Order of Merit title

You need to win tournaments to be regarded as a great player Justin Rose

Volvo Masters final round:
* Rose won on second play-off hole
-1 J Rose*, S Dyson, S Kjeldsen
+1 P Harrington, G McDowell
+4 M Kaymer
+6 MA Jimenez

England's Justin Rose won the 2007 European PGA Tour Order of Merit title for the first time after victory in the season-ending Volvo Masters.

Rose won a three-way play-off at Valderrama against compatriot Simon Dyson and Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen.

Padraig Harrington, who also had the chance to finish as number one, ended up third in the money list after coming joint fourth in the tournament.

Long-time leader Ernie Els was second after opting not to play at Valderrama.

The South African controversially decided to play in the Singapore Masters instead, where he missed the cut.

The 27-year-old Rose eventually came through on the second play-off hole after finishing on one-under 283 alongside Dyson and Kjeldsen.

But he came close to throwing the tournament away during a traumatic back nine in which he dropped four shots in three holes to allow Kjeldsen to take the lead.

"I am emotional right now - it was a hard day," said Rose.

"I looked like losing and dug deep. I'm sure there's an easy way to do this stuff, but it was terrible.

"I made a couple of mental errors and even saw the Order of Merit slipping away.

"It's awesome to do it. Knowing that I had was a nice consolation going into the play-off, but I wanted to do it by winning the tournament.

"It's been a long road to get here. You need to win tournaments to be regarded as a great player and it would have been very disappointing if I hadn't won this."

Rose had seemed to be sitting pretty as he developed a four-shot lead after 10 holes of the final round, but a double bogey seven at the 11th - after putting himself in trouble in the bunker - stopped him in his tracks.

The mistake seemed to rock Rose's confidence as he dropped further shots on the 13th and 14th holes, and Kjeldsen needed no second invitation as he found form to take the lead.

It's the pinnacle of my career so far Justin Rose

A brilliant albatross at the 17th from Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell catapulted him into a share of the lead at one under alongside Rose and Kjeldsen.

But McDowell made a mess of the last hole to slip out of contention just as Dyson was storming into the race for the lead.

Rose regained his composure with a birdie at the 17th and did just about enough to take his place in the play-off.

Dyson, Rose and Kjeldsen all played the first play-off hole in exemplary fashion, but a superb birdie putt at the next hole saw the Englishman finish off the perfect day in style.

Harrington and Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell ended two shots back.

Rose's victory - his first tournament win since the Australian Masters last November - took him to seventh in the world rankings.

"It's the pinnacle of my career so far," added Rose, the youngest winner of the Order of Merit since a 25-year-old Ronan Rafferty back in 1989.

Rose sets sights on major in 2008

Justin Rose (right) celebrates victory with his wife, coach and manager

Justin Rose is targeting a major victory in 2008 after securing his first European PGA Tour Order of Merit title at Valderrama on Sunday.

The Englishman, who is up to seventh in the world rankings, beat Simon Dyson and Soren Kjeldsen in a play-off to win the tournament and the Merit title.

Rose is now looking to build on some impressive major results in 2007.

"I think that's how you're remembered in the game in 20 or 50 years' time," Rose told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"The first port of call is 'he won two majors' or 'he won three majors'.

"To me, it's really important to win a major, that's been a lifelong dream of mine. I've won the Open about 1,000 times on the putting green as a kid. That's what drives me."

Rose finished tied for fifth at this year's Masters, 10th at the US Open, 12th at the Open and 12th at the USPGA Championship.

"Until winning yesterday, the thing that I took most confidence and comfort from was fact that I played well in the majors this year and got close to winning the Masters," he said.

"That's where I've gained a lot of confidence from this year."

Rose pipped Ernie Els to the title after the South Africa opted to play in the Singapore Open instead.