Alonso says no problems with Renault

Alonso accused Renault of twice abandoning him at crucial times this season, and was also unhappy that he had to fight against teammate Giancarlo Fisichella at the Chinese Grand Prix last weekend.

The Spaniard, however, denied any rift with the team after he lost the overall lead to Ferrari's Michael Schumacher last weekend.

Comparing himself to a leader of the Tour de France left behind by teammates on a mountainside after suffering a puncture, the Spaniard said he had felt isolated in Shanghai last Sunday.

"I felt alone, for sure. I was first and my teammate was second and they came to me and overtook me and were gone. When I recovered the pace they were too far away.

"It's like you are in the Tour de France, in the mountains and climbing and you have a puncture and your team and your rival go uphill with no stops. That was a little bit difficult to understand."

Both Alonso, Fisichella and team boss Flavio Briatore cleared the air, however, and the Spaniard admitted on Friday he was surprised by the reaction to his comments and said there were no problems with his team.

"I was surprised by the strong reaction to what I said yesterday in the press conference," Alonso said in a statement after practice for the Japanese Grand Prix.

"I expressed very clearly that these were only my personal feelings, and that I completely understand and accept the team's decisions.

"Last night, I explained that to the team and to Fisi, and there is no problem. Every single person at Renault is fighting to the maximum to win the championship. I don't know what people see from the outside, but within the team, we have a fantastic atmosphere right now.

"And we are determined to come out on top."