Alonso, in his first year with McLaren, was involved in a number of disputes throughout the year with his side as he felt he didn't get the respect he deserved as a two-time world champion and said the team was favoring Hamilton, a British rookie.

Hamilton went off the track on the first lap of Sunday's race and a subsequent gear box problem kept him from finishing higher than seventh.

The result was jeopardised, however, after a FIA investigation on possible fuel irregularities on three of the drivers who finished ahead of Hamilton.

FIA did not initially penalise the drivers, but McLaren was expected to appeal and the outcome could alter the result of the championship.

"If Hamilton wins the championship after this today it wouldn't be fair and I would ashamed to be in this sport," Alonso said.

"If they give you the title, you don't think it's a present but rather that you deserve it. He (Hamilton) would be delighted if they give it to him."

"Better work"

Alonso said Raikkonen deserved the title because it was won on the track.

"If you have more points, you are the deserved champion just like in football," Alonso said.

"If after 17 races you finish with more points than your rivals then you are the deserved winner."

Alonso couldn't keep up with the pace of the Ferraris in the Brazilian GP and finished third, one spot lower than he needed to clinch the title after Raikkonen's victory.

"Ferrari has done better work than anyone," Alonso said.

The Spaniard was trying to become only the third driver to win three consecutive F1 titles, along with Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher.

His future with McLaren was still uncertain after the Brazilian GP, and some reports said he could be returning to Renault, the team for which he won titles in 2005 and '06.

Appeal to go ahead

Meanwhile, despite what Alonso thinks, McLaren have confirmed that it will appeal FIA's decision not to penalise four drivers investigated for fuel irregularities following the Brazilian Grand Prix.

"We will lodge an appeal," McLaren head of media communications Ellen Kolby said.

The ruling by the sport's governing body maintained Lewis Hamilton as the seventh-place finisher in Sunday's race, two spots less than he needed to win the title.