FIA to ensure fair play

Spanish Racing Federation president Carlos Gracia raised concerns with motorsport's world governing body regarding what he described as "strange situations" in the last few races, and he fears Hamilton is being favoured over Alonso.

In an effort to ensure fair play at Interlagos on October 21, a FIA spokesman confirmed to PA Sport: "A scrutineer is to be appointed for the Brazilian Grand Prix."

On the morning of the Hungarian Grand Prix in August, it is known Alonso threatened to divulge information relevant to the spy case unless he was granted number one status within the team.

That sparked a furious row between Alonso and team principal Ron Dennis, and the two men have barely spoken since.

At Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix, Alonso complained bitterly about his tyre pressures during qualifying - in which he finished a distant fourth to Hamilton's pole.

After the race, in which Hamilton skidded off to set up a three-way battle for the crown with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen still in the hunt, Dennis notably commented: "We were not racing Kimi - we were racing Fernando."

Going into the final race of an enthralling season, Hamilton's lead is four points over Alonso - with Raikkonen a further three adrift. Speaking to the Spanish media, Gracia has also been granted access by McLaren.

He said: "Ron Dennis has invited me to see the development of the team as president of the Federation, to see that they have nothing to hide.

"In Brazil, there will be a FIA commissioner keeping a close eye so that nothing happens to Fernando - especially in qualifying, where more complaints or strange situations have happened in the last few grands prix."