Martin Whitmarsh: 'Fernando Alonso under real pressure'

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh believes that Ferrari's Fernando Alonso is under "real pressure" to win the Formula 1 championship this season.

The Spaniard's lead at the top was reduced to four points by Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel on Sunday after he won the Japanese Grand Prix, with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton 42 points behind.

"Fernando is under some real pressure, more pressure frankly from Sebastian than us," Whitmarsh is quoted as saying by the BBC.

"But nonetheless we have closed the gap and we have five races to go."

Lotus Renault's Kimi Raikkonen is third.