After finishing second in the Turkish Grand Prix, extending his championship lead by two points over his main rival for the 2006 crown, Michael Schumacher, who crossed the line eight hundredths of a second behind the Renault, Fernando Alonso confessed that the at the end of the day the battle for honours will be decided by their respective tyre companies.

Alonso’s main reasoning behind this statement is that with just four races to go, most teams have reach the end of their development process for the season…

"I think we are in Michelin and Bridgestone's hands because at the end of the day, I think the cars are at their maximum development now," he said. "In the last part of the championship, I don't think you can find extra tenths or two tenths in the car, while the tyres can give you more than half a second. So I think that they will be the deciding point in the championship."

That said however, it must be recognised that Michelin is also winding done as at the end of the Brazilian Grand Prix in October, the French manufacturer will close the doors to the Formula One division.