Title justifies struggle, insists champion.

Fernando Alonso claims that winning his first Formula One world championship goes a long way to repaying the efforts of friends and family in his homeland as he was attempting to forge a career in motorsport.

In a slightly barbed attack, launched during the post-race press conference at Interlagos, the Spaniard insisted that he had found little support in a country obsessed with two-wheeled racing, but has now justified the backing of the handful convinced that he could make it.

"I think I came from a country with no traditions in Formula One and I fought alone, basically," he recounted, "I had no help from anyone for all of my career, and arrived in Formula One thanks to the results in my previous categories and thanks to my sponsors. Now I think this title is the maximum I can achieve in my life, in my career, and it is thanks to three or four people - no more than that."

Alonso also admitted that it had been hard having to sit out a season so soon after arriving in the top flight, and that after a year of running at the back of the field having been spotted by Minardi's Paul Stoddart.

"It was a little bit depressing at the beginning of my career, because I arrived having won in all the categories before Formula One and, then, at Minardi, I was next to last in all races," he said, "It was a little bit frustrating. After that, I thought I was able to be in a competitive car after one year learning at Minardi, but there was no place for me at Renault, so I was test driver for one year. However, from 2003 to now, I developed myself, my driving style, and grew up with the team to be in this position."

Stoddart was among the first to pay tribute to the new champion, having talked of Minardi's plans to celebrate his title as early as Friday.

"On a day that Minardi produced its first-ever world champion in Fernando Alonso, it was fitting to see him on the podium," the Australian, who is due to depart F1 at the end of the season, admitted, "I believe he will go on to be a very worthy champion and a tremendous ambassador for this sport.

"Like many drivers, Fernando started his career with Minardi and, even in those early days, there were obvious signs of his huge natural talent and ability. It was equally clear that, with the right team and the right car at the right moment, today was always going to happen. We wish both Fernando and Renault all the best, and I think they have every right to be very proud of a job well done."