McLaren's Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton remain focused on their tussle for the Formula One world title, despite the fact that their season could be over before the next race as a result of the Ferrari spy scandal.
"There are still four races to go and the fight is still on," Hamilton said on Sunday after finishing second to his teammate at the Italian Grand Prix.
Two-time defending F1 champion Alonso took the checkered flag for his 19th career grand prix triumph, his fourth this year, and first at Monza. His victory also moved him to within three points of rookie Hamilton at the top of the driver's standings.
"Yes but nothing changes really," Alonso said. "The gap is more or less the same ... and I think it will stay like that until the last race."
McLaren has a hearing before the World Motor Sport Council on Thursday which could result in a two-year ban for the team from Formula One -- and end Alonso and Hamilton's season-long rivalry for supremacy on the track.
The International Automobile Federation called the hearing after it said it had "new evidence" in Ferrari's dispute with McLaren.
The case ignited in July when technical data about the Italian team's cars turned up in the possession of McLaren's chief designer.
That said, neither driver seemed to be entertaining that possibility of not competing in the remaining four races of the season.
"We will see the championship go down to the wire I am sure, and perhaps in the last race you see who comes out first," the 22-year-old Hamilton said.
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