'Lucky' Alonso very happy with second

Alonso finished in second place in Istanbul, crucially beating his championship rival Michael Schumacher, who had to settle for third despite looking faster than his rival for most of the weekend.

Schumacher's hopes of a 90th career win were effectively scuppered by the intervention of the safety car on lap 14 with teammate Felipe Massa leading and the German in second place and Alonso further back in third.

Schumacher was forced to wait in line, and Alonso emerged ahead of him.

The two title contenders were nose to tail over the closing laps, with seven times champion Schumacher doing his best to force a way past and the 25-year-old Spaniard repelling every effort.

Schumacher crossed the finish line 0.019 seconds behind Alonso.

"We were lucky with the safety car and overtook Michael," admitted Alonso. "Then and I managed to pull away a little bit. I was light on fuel in the second stint and Michael went wide on Turn 8 and the gap increased three or four seconds and that was the key to maintain the second place after the second stop.

"The last 15 laps were very close and I managed to finish in front by half a car, enough to be second.

"I am very happy in a way and I am not too happy that we were not able to win. In the whole race Felipe was able to pull away and for sure we need to improve something for the next race."

Second place stretched Alonso's overall lead to 12 points with four races remaining.

Although Schumacher had the faster car and looked ready to pass Alonso for several laps, the Spaniard claimed he was confident of keeping the German at bay.

"To be honest I was confident," he said. "I was playing with the revs and the engine a little bit, down and up depending on the distance with Michael.

"At the last corner I closed the door in case he tried a risky manoeuvre and covered myself there and in the line the distance was very close but I knew that was enough."