Alonso happy with damage-control third

The Spainiard is now 16 points behind world championship leader Mark Webber and said that he was satisfied with his damage control exercise on a track that suited Red Bull.

"We knew that before coming here, third was probably our maximum position coming here," he said. "But we are convinced that this was the worst track of the remaining races of this championship so a good weekend overall.

"I think we have to be very happy with the result, 15 points. We lost [three] points on a circuit that was not the best for us, performance wise, it was not our best level. We saw today struggling in Q1, Q2 we saw problems for Felipe, so not an ideal weekend in terms of pace.

"We only lost three points in the championship, so overall we have to be extremely happy."

Alonso added to the BBC that Red Bull's dominance at Suzuka did not have him unduly concerned heading into the last three races and that consistency was still key to his title hopes.

"On paper this was a perfect Red Bull track," he said. "So to come away 14 points behind we have to be happy. We know that the remaining three races we need to keep pushing.

"When we arrive at circuits with more difficulties for Red Bull we need to take our opportunities. They took today their one.

"Of the 16 races in the championship, 15 of them were Red Bull circuits and they won only seven. They have done three one-twos and 12 times they didn't, so the remaining three races it will be difficult for them to be one-twos. Always something happens, and if something happens we can take the opportunity.

"If not we know it will be hard because in 2010 Red Bull has had the dominant car."