Renault drops behind BAR

Renault failed to score at Monza despite Alonso pressing eventual third place man Button very hard before spinning out of the race at Monza's second chicane on lap 41.

"I made a good start," Alonso said, "and then Jenson overtook me during the first round of pit-stops. I was able to keep up with him and my spin happened when I took too much kerb in the second chicane and lost control of the rear end."

Alonso ended up beached on the kerb and added: "I was surprised that the marshals decided not to push me, as the rules allow them to. But that's life.

"We now need to focus on the last three races to re-take second place in the championship. We will bounce back from this result. Monza was the worst circuit of the year for our car but I was competitive and fighting with BAR. I hope the next Grand Prix will see us climb back up the table."

Team-mate Trulli, who had a new chassis at this race after complaining of inconsistent handling at Spa, again had a variable afternoon. He was slow in the first stint ands lost almost 2s a lap to team-mate Alonso for the first 20 laps. Towards the end of his stints, however, he speeded up, even setting the best sector one time on the very last lap of the race.

"After 15 races our season comes down to the last three," said Briatore. "our objective will be to close the gap to BAR."