Hamilton, Alonso in show of unity

SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso put their differences aside in a public show of unity ahead of Sunday's world title showdown at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday.

The McLaren teammates laughed and joked as they appeared before the world's media at Interlagos and talked of their shared admiration for Brazilian motor racing legend Ayrton Senna, who was killed in a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994 and is buried nearby.

"People have said many, many things about us, but they are untrue. We never have had problems with each other," said Alonso.

"We are obviously fighting on the track, but off the track, we have had a very good relationship from day one, so it's still the same."

As for Hamilton, he added: "I think it's as good as ever. "I think we've got on quite well all year, despite what the media have said.

"They have always tried to make out there is a big gap between us and they haven't really succeeded. "We just get on quite well, have got on with our jobs, and we will continue to do that."

Hamilton leads the two-time champion Alonso by four points ahead of the final round, with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen of Finland also in the title hunt seven points adrift.

But the main talking point of a remarkable season has centered on the rivalry between rookie Hamilton and Spain's Alonso.

It surfaced at the Hungarian Grand Prix where Alonso appeared to deliberately prevent Hamilton from completing a final qualifying lap and in the wake of the F1 spying scandal with the 22-year-old Briton publicly questioning Alonso's loyalty to the team.

Whether their new found friendship can endure once practice starts on Friday ahead of Saturday's qualifying is open to question, but the pair have both admitted to being inspired in their formative years by Senna.

"All the years I've been watching Formula One, literally from the beginning of my karting career, I've had books and videos on Senna," said Hamilton.

"To watch them and see him in his home country, see how people view him over here, and then to finally come to this country, his home turf and where his resting place is, it's quite touching."

Alonso agreed: "When I was in go-karts I had pictures of him in my room," he said.

"I always followed his races on the TV when I could. He was my favorite driver at the time, and when I came into Formula One he was my prototype.

"So it's good to come here because there is a lot of Formula One passion here in Brazil, in the people, in the hotels and on the street.

"They all love Formula One, so when you come here you realize it's a very important place and a very important race." E-mail to a friend