Alonso blames traffic for missing podium

Alonso, who was demoted from pole position to sixth place on the grid following Saturday's qualifying incident, was stuck behind Toyota's Ralf Schumacher for several laps, losing a lot of time to the leaders.

Once in clean air, the McLaren driver was able to lap a lot faster, but eventually had to settle for fourth, right behind BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld.

"We knew it's very hard to overtake at this circuit," the Spaniard said after the race. "We know it's hard starting from behind, and we were dreaming about reaching the podium.

"We were close but it wasn't enough. But fourth place is not bad. I lost one point compared to the maximum that was possible for us.

"I spent the whole race with traffic, first with Ralf and then with Heidfeld and it was pretty hard to drive with someone in front."

The world champion, whose teammate Lewis Hamilton won the race, is now seven points behind the Briton, and he reckons Saturday's penalty robbed him of a possible victory.

"It's a lost opportunity because I think this weekend I was faster," Alonso added. "Yesterday I got pole and today when I was in clean air I was very fast, so I think I could have won, but it was not to be. In three weeks there's another race and I'll try again."

The Spaniard, however, reckons the title battle is still far from over.

"I think it's not going to be decided until the last race. I was two points behind and now I'm seven behind, but we were 14 behind a few races ago, so we are doing fine."