Fernando Alonso: “We are closer to Red Bull”

04/01/2023 at 09:19

CEST

“In terms of race pace, I think Red Bull is still in another category, although today we were closer by one lap, only 4 tenths”, Fernando assesses.

“Mercedes always wants to throw away the car, they have hidden, it is clear, and by the middle of the year they will surely be there to fight or win races,” he analyzes

Fernando Alonso will start fourth in the race tomorrow Sunday at the Albert Park circuit, scene of the Australian Grand Prix. The Asturian driver has remained in the wake of Max Verstappen, intractable with Red Bull, since the first practice sessions on Friday and also today during qualifying, although in the last lap he was surprised by the Mercedes of Russell and Hamilton, who they have relegated him to the second row of the grid. All in all, Fernando has made a very positive reading, highlighting that the differences with the RB19 have been reduced, since today he finished just 4 tenths of the leader of the World Cup.

“This has been the time trial in which we have been closest to Verstappen, only four tenths. And until the last attempt I think we were even closer. Well, in general it is perhaps the best of the three times we have done this season in terms of benefits”, has valued Alonso, optimistic.

Confident and with a competitive car, Fernando has been relieved because finally the forecasts that gave rain have not been met for the last minutes of qualifying: “That it rained was the biggest danger today. Now that we have a fast car we didn’t want any surprises or a lottery, so putting the two cars in the top six”, he commented, also highlighting the sixth position obtained by his partner Lance Stroll.

Alonso has analyzed the premature elimination of Sergio Pérez in Q1 in terms of the championship, since he leaves the Mexican last on the grid: “I think it’s fine, with Checo out, because adding more points than him tomorrow would bring us a little closer in the championship, so in general it has been a good day”, he underlined, although he has shown himself to be more realistic regarding the possibility that in Australia his famous victory 33 can arrive. They also have significant speed in the straight line”, he admits.

“But hey, there’s only one Red Bull, the other one is behind, so any problem that happens to Max (Verstappen), we have to try to take advantage of it. But we also have the Mercedes, who start in front of us, so it will be an entertaining race, for sure”, warned Alonso, who recalled that he never gave the Mercedes for ‘dead’. “They always want to leave this car and they lament so much , but the truth is that they already go fast. They have hidden, it is clear, and halfway through the year they will surely be there to fight or win races, as they did last year with Russell in Brazil.

Enjoy Formula 1 on DAZN. welcome to the best part

With a view to the Australian race, Alonso He has some doubts about the strategy to follow: “Let’s see how we plan the race, the hard tires have been a little worse than expected, especially with low temperatures, but tomorrow we expect a little more heat, the sun will come out , that will also help the hard ones. We will try to have a simple race, without making mistakes. It is a circuit with many traps, we have seen it, with many red flags, safety sars also in other categories, so you have to be very focused”, has settled.

ttn-25