Alonso admits finishing second in this year's championship will be hard

The Ferrari driver secured third place behind Sebastian Vettel and Jenson Button, the Briton increasing his gap over Alonso to 13 points with just two races left.

Although the gap is not that big, Alonso says he is aware Ferrari is currently slower than Red Bull and McLaren, which is why he reckons it will be hard to overtake Button.

The two-time champion was nonetheless delighted with today's result.

"It's nice to jump on the podium for India's debut in Formula 1 and I'm pleased to have a new trophy to take home," said Alonso.

"After this race, second place in the drivers' championship is still possible, but it will be very difficult because McLaren is on great form at the moment, even if the gap is only 13 points. We are aware that on paper, we are behind the two Red Bulls and two McLarens: then, if something unusual happens, we can make it to the podium.

"Today, the team was fantastic, managing to fix a problem on the front wing which was only identified twenty minutes before the start. At the start, I did not get away particularly well and so Button was able to pass me.

"Then I tried to stay close to Webber and when he slowed down a bit, I closed right up and, staying out on track a few laps longer than him, I was able to get ahead of him. Being patient paid off."

The Spanish driver admitted it had been a day of mixed emotions for him too following the deaths of Dan Wheldon and Marco Simoncelli.

"Today was a special day, full of contrasting emotions. In fact, the satisfaction at getting a podium finish cannot cancel out the sadness which has been with us for several days, because of the deaths of two of our colleagues, two special people - Dan Wheldon and Marco Simoncelli."