Debris slows Renault, Alonso still third.

The Renault F1 team lost out at the German Grand Prix Sunday, due to debris on the track, which adversely affected the races of both Fernando Alonso and Jarno Trulli, although the former still managed to finish third.

Speaking following the race, executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds was delighted to see one of his cars finish in the top three, however he was aware that it could have been better, had the R24's not 'collected the parts of other cars'.

"It is fantastic to see Fernando on the podium for the second time in three races, but it is unlikely that many people will have realised how fantastic his drive today was," he commented. "With Jenson [Button] following him during the final stint, something very bizarre happened to the car that seriously interfered with its handling: the result was that the aerodynamic balance was pushed backwards by 8 per cent, a huge amount, and he had to contend with a large amount of understeer. It was not surprising to see Jenson pass him, and it turned out to be a bargeboard that had caught under the car. On lap 58, everything went back to normal when it became dislodged.

"It was not our day for collecting parts of other cars today, because Jarno also suffered when part of Raikkonen's rear wing lodged behind his rear wing. Today, we had a real attacking race and after so many incidents, it is a great result to score six points."

Despite losing out on second, Alonso was pleased to take third, and the final spot on the podium.

"I don't know what happened to the car during the final stint: at first, I thought it was problem with the front wing, then the suspension, but whatever the cause, the result was obvious: I just had no front grip at all," he explained.

"I radioed to the team that I was coming in to the pits, but they told me to stay out. Then, I ran over one of the kerbs and everything went back to normal: there must have been some debris lodged somewhere.

"Before those incidents, it had been a good race: I got one of the best starts of my career, and then I had a big battle with Jenson. We are both aggressive drivers, and we had fun I think - it was entertaining to have battle like that on the circuit. In the end, I think it was a good race for us."

As for Trulli, his car was also slowed by debris. Following a very competitive first stint, the Italian hit the debris from Raikkonen's accident, and part of the McLaren's rear wing was caught on the front end of the R24. The team was unable to identify the exact cause of the problem while the car was on the circuit, and therefore changed the nose at the second pit-stop, costing him time and positions. Trulli then battled through the field to finish a disappointing eleventh.

"I had a strong race but just like with Fernando's car, I hit debris that caught on the car," he said. "Unfortunately, it happened earlier in the race when other competitors were much closer. I lost front grip, the car was under-steering and would not turn in to the corners. Then, we changed the nose and front wing, and everything was OK again. It is a real shame, because I had demonstrated at the start of the race that my car was very quick today."

Team boss, Flavio Briatore reckoned the team did a super job.

"Fernando had to work hard for his podium finish today, and he deserves it: there is no doubt that his car's handling was seriously affected during part of the race, just like Jarno's earlier on," he concluded. "However, the whole team did a fantastic job: the engineers on the pit-wall, and the mechanics at the pit-stops. After the disappointment of Silverstone, they deserve this reward."