Alonso (left) keeps a comfortable lead despite Raikkonen's win

The Renault driver can afford to finish third behind both McLarens in all five remaining races and still be champion.

McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh said: "Renault and Alonso are doing a great job but they can trip up over backmarkers or have issues themselves.

"It only takes something like that and we're right back in the hunt."

Raikkonen won the inaugural Turkish race at a canter on Sunday to take his second victory on the trot and cut Alonso's lead to 24 points.

His victory underlined that McLaren have the fastest car in Formula One, but their hopes of eating into Alonso's lead have been continually frustrated by problems.

I think we control the situation, more or less Flavio Briatore Renault F1 team boss

They suffered another in Turkey, when Raikkonen's team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya ran wide on the penultimate lap, handing second place - and two extra points - to Alonso.

Raikkonen said: "It would have been nice to have a one-two but what can you do? Sometimes it goes like this.

"But anyhow, two points are two points and they can make a big difference at the end of the season. We did the best we could do and we just need to keep working hard and win more races and see where we end up."

Whitmarsh added: "Having won six of the last 10 races, we should be feeling quite good.

"It was a strong performance but we should have had a one-two. It was well within our grasp.

"There's no reason why we can't get a one-two in the remaining five races. Renault are doing a good job, we've got to do a better job."

Raikkonen's McLaren is faster but more fragile than Alonso's Renault

But Renault team boss Flavio Briatore said his team's consistency ensured they were in control of their own destiny.

"If it's impossible to win, we will do the best possible," the Italian said.

"Our reliability was perfect, and although the gaps are a little smaller, we are still leading both championships.

"Monza (scene of the next race, the Italian Grand Prix) is a better circuit for us and we have a big step in the car and engine when we go to Brazil. I think we control the situation, more or less."

It looks like Alonso for the drivers' title, but I think McLaren will grab the constructors' title From Rokey Have your say on Five Live

Whitmarsh said McLaren were optimistic they could overhaul Renault's nine-point lead in the constructors' championship in the remaining races - but added that they were still hopeful Raikkonen's chances.

"We are very slowly nibbling away there but not too long ago we were talking about 20 points and we're now down to nine," Whitmarsh said.

"We believe that (the constructors' title) is there for the taking but we haven't given up on the drivers'."