Alonso still confident about title chances

The two-time world champion was hit by gearbox problems during qualifying, meaning he had to start from tenth place and without the appropriate fuel load to maximise his strategy.

Alonso could only recover three positions in the race to finish in a distant seventh for two points.

Meanwhile, teammate Lewis Hamilton, finished in third place for his eighth podium in eight races, the Briton managing to increase his lead at the head of the championship.

Hamilton now leads Alonso by 14 points with nine races to go, but the Spaniard is relying on the rookie also hitting trouble to close the gap.

"Yeah, without a doubt," said Alonso when asked if he was still confident of taking this year's title.

"Hamilton, who is leading, finished third. He has finished all eight races on the podium, but when he has gearbox problems or is hindered by the safety car, that will be the day when I gain the most points on him.

"We knew it was going to be a complicated race, starting from behind and with less fuel than the rest. I hope these two points are important at the end of the season."