Formula 1: Vettel dominates Belgian GP, Alonso still thinks about title

Fernando Alonso still believes he can challenge for the Formula 1 title despite falling further behind defending champion Sebastian Vettel after the Belgian Grand Prix. Ferrari driver Alonso is now a whole 46 points behind Red Bull's Vettel with a maximum of 200 available from the last eight races of the season. "We recovered some of the optimism we lost," said Alonso after finishing second to Vettel at Spa. "It was a good weekend in terms of feeling and points." It is true that Ferrari showed clear signs of improvement in Belgium after struggling in Britain, Germany and Hungary. Alonso qualified ninth but did well to race his way up to second position thanks to a very good start. Lewis Hamilton finished third after starting on pole. Alonso has history on his side: last year he was 39 points ahead of Vettel after the Italian Grand Prix but fell six points behind just three races later. "It is still open," said Alonso. "We just need to keep trying to improve our performance and try to turn it around." He admitted that Vettel deserved the Belgian GP win: "In the race, once we were second we were 0.2-0.4 seconds slower every lap. When you are the second fastest, you deserve to be second. We just need to congratulate Sebastian and Red Bull and get better for Monza." Vettel clinched his fifth victory in 11 races this season but he agrees with Alonso, saying that the championship is far from over. "It's step by step and not trying to be too smart and try to think too far ahead," he said. Kimi Raikkonen, now 63 points behind Vettel, had a terrible Sunday as brake problems forced him to retire at Spa. "It's a shame for him," said Vettel. "I had a technical failure in Silverstone. It can happen to all of us. The cars are on the limit and we try to get everything out of them and things that are a bit on the limit can also break." Here are the current outright odds for the Formula 1 Drivers Championship at Bet365: Sebastian Vettel - 1/8 Lewis Hamilton - 10/1 Fernando Alonso - 12/1 Kimi Raikkonen - 33/1