Alonso unfazed by mass damper ban

The FIA's Court of Appeal ruled on Tuesday that the system was in breach of the technical regulations.

Renault had used the damper system since September last year, and reports suggest their car is up to 0.3 seconds slower per lap without the device.

The French squad, seven points ahead of Ferrari in the standings with five races remaining, did not use the system in the last two races in Germany and Hungary.

Alonso, however, sounded unfazed on Thursday, the Spaniard claiming he can still fight in front despite the mass damper ban.

"We accept the decision and that is logical and we try to make the best in our car," said Alonso in a press conference in Turkey. "I think we were very competitive without it in Hockenheim, apart from the problems with the tyres in the race. We were quick in all the tests we did.

"We were quick in Hungary as well so when I drive I don't feel any big difference so I have no worries at all that the rest of the season will be very good for us and I am totally confident.

"For sure the team is working hard to make some new parts I think in the front of the car, so I think we will have no impact at all in the team."

Alonso admitted he was surprised by the FIA verdict, especially considering the system had been used for nearly a year.

"I am not the person to say it is fair or not fair," he added. "Anyone has in his mind and inside what he feels is fair or not fair. For sure it sounds strange that after one year it suddenly becomes a disaster aerodynamically affecting the movement but we all understand and we all know that this is not true."

Although the Spaniard has seen a 25-point lead reduced to just 10 in the last four races, he believes it has nothing to do with the mass damper being banned.

"Well, the last race one of the tyres went. so this is one of the good explanations," the Spaniard said. "For sure if that tyre in Hungary had not gone away then we would be talking about different things. Ten points more and a championship lead that would be looking really nice for the last five races.

"Indy we knew was a very difficult race for Renault and for me and then in Magny-Cours we went back to the fight and finished second between the two Ferraris. And in Hockenheim we had blistering with the tyres and the wrong choice all weekend and in Hungary we were back and fought for victory even the in wet or dry.

"We had the first mechanical problem in two years so it is not a drama. It has been fantastic the reliability of the car so hopefully in the last five races I can finish and if we can finish on the podium and not in fifth place then it will be better."