Schumacher now in drivers seat
Renault on Wednesday found out that their mass damper device, a system that controls tire wear by leveling out tire vibrations, had been outlawed.
Schumacher, who has closed the gap on Alonso to just 10 points with just five races remaining in the season, says this weekend's race could prove to be pivotal in his title challenge.
"We have five chances to change the current situation and win the title now," said Schumacher. "We should not make the mistake of thinking that our chances dipped after Hungary. Instead we ought to look ahead; we could have found ourselves in a much worse position at this stage of the season.
"Our desire is exactly the same and Istanbul is a very important stage on the road to the title."
"I think things are looking good," added Schumacher. "I think that we should be competitive at the weekend though. After all, our potential is as high as ever. The title challenge is so exciting that I cannot wait for the next race."
I'm feeling very positive," said Alonso. "I am in the position where everybody wants to be – leading the championship, with the races counting down. There was some pressure on us after Germany, but the race in Hungary showed that the R26 is still very competitive, and that you have to take every weekend one at a time."