Alonso not convinced by KERS

Renault is unlikely to bring it back for the Monaco Grand Prix where the energy recovery system is expected to offer the least performance benefit of the season.

Despite being reluctant to comment on KERS, Alonso answered "maybe" when asked by AUTOSPORT whether he preferred the car without KERS. He added that he doesn't know when KERS, which offers a power boost of just over 80bhp for 6.7 seconds per lap, will be brought back by Renault.

Alonso said the KERS device can be a distraction to the driver, although he says the system does not have a negative impact on the handling of the car.

"When you don't have KERS, you are maybe concentrating more on driving," said Alonso. "It's a little bit distracting to think always about pressing the button as quickly as possible.

"The handling of the car is the same. It's just when you arrive on the main straight with KERS, you hit the button and you feel the push."

Alonso remains upbeat about Renault's title chances, despite having scored only five points so far this season compared to championship leader Jenson Button's 31.

"It's still open," said Alonso. "Every race, the challenge is more and more difficult because you are continually losing points and you have a slower car. But we've only done four races.

"In the next three or four races, half of the grid will have no chance at all and we will see only three or four contenders. Hopefully, in two or three races, we can be one of these three or four if we score many points."