After dominantly winning the previous two grands prix, Kimi Raikkonen also started the final lap at the Nurburgring in P1.
The win would have cut the championship deficit to Renault's Alonso to just 20 points.
But, with the little Spaniard there to filch the win after Raikkonen's McLaren speared into the turn one barrier, the real gap is a near insurmountable 32 points.
"Winning the championship will be very difficult now," the 25-year-old Finn remarked.
Asked if he was angry at either himself, for flat-spotting his front tyre, or McLaren - for not building strong enough suspension to handle the vibration - he coolly answered: "There's no point.
"It is not something I can change now." -GMM