Ferrari's Fernando Alonso has refused to give up his hopes of winning the United States Grand Prix despite a disappointing qualifying session on Saturday.

The Spaniard will start eighth, while Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel will be in pole position for Sunday's race.

"Everybody will think it's all over and we are sure we can score more points than Vettel," BBC Sport quotes Alonso as saying. "I don't know how but I have this feeling inside.

"I take maximum risk and maximum attack for seven months now, nothing [has] changed. In India (two races ago) we were very close with the McLarens on the exit of Turn Four. I think it will be the same [approach] tomorrow.

"We need to do a very good start; the places we made in the start and the first lap in the last three or four races were very important for our final result. Tomorrow we need to repeat that."

Vettel currently leads Alonso by 10 points in the world championship title race.