We're not exactly sure that Kimi Raikkonen will agree with him, but Fernando Alonso believes the Finn has been lucky this season.

On a day when another engine failure has cost the McLaren driver ten grid spots - for the umpteenth time this season - the Spaniard said that the timing of the numerous failures has not been too disadvantageous.

"McLaren have been very lucky again," the new World Champion told reporters, following today's free practice sessions.

"A few laps more in Brazil and they break the engine there and we have more points. But they can change now and it will be difficult for us to beat them in the race even if they start 11th," he added.

"I have been saying this all year, but nobody believed me when I said that Kimi has been lucky," continued the Spaniard, who some have accused of easing off in the latter stages of the championship and settling for podium finishes rather than wins.

"I know that it sounds strange but, of the four or five engine problems he has had, they have always been very close to the race. It's always been the last lap on Saturday morning or first laps on Friday. If they had happened during the race before or on the Sunday then he would have had 30 or 40 points less and this would have been a big help for me for the drivers' title and for Renault in the constructors'."

Looking ahead to Sunday's race, Alonso admitted that he expects to see his great rival challenging for a podium finish on Sunday.

"He can easily finish on the podium so this will not help us too much," he said, adding, with a grin: "Maybe on Sunday they will have more problems."