Alonso planning to pounce on Saturday's changeable conditions

  • Published on 23 Mar 2018 14:05
  • comments 5
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Fernando Alonso is hoping to work Saturday's changeable conditions to his favour, saying that he plans to extract the maximum from them. Saturday running is set to be affected by rain, with it looking likely that the first qualifying session of the year will be wet.

The Spaniard was compromised on day one in Melbourne, only setting a lap time in practice one with twenty minutes left in the session. However, he finished in eighth place in both practice sessions, indicating that the McLaren has delivered on the pace its been looking for over the last three years.

The double-world champion said that it feels good to be back in the racing spotlight: "It’s good to be back in the racing spirit, and it’s a nice feeling to be with all the cars on track after the lonely winter tests where you are the only car per team on track and have empty grandstands.

"Being the first day of the season, there were a lot of things we wanted to test. However, the weather conditions will be changeable from tomorrow, so we need to be careful with the information we have gathered. 

"We lost a little bit of time in first practice with some issues but we managed to recover everything in the second session, and now we need to analyse everything to get the best package for tomorrow. The weather is going to affect everyone and we’re used to these changeable conditions here, so hopefully we can maximise every opportunity."

siggy74

Posts: 194

As Eric said to Alonso and co "no body move. dont panic".

" We have a plan for the tight packaging and exhaust issues,all pray for rain & dance"

Alonso replys "what no deck chair"

Eric " Do we look like a gp2 engine team"..

Roll on the rain please this will make for some interesting fun to w... [Read more]

  • 1
  • Mar 23 2018 - 18:25

Replies (5)

Login to reply
  • Good to see him, finding some hope.

    • + 0
    • Mar 23 2018 - 15:32
  • acmonkey

    Posts: 5

    Anyone remember Day 3 of tests in Barcelona? Pouring rain, and one of the few drivers that went out (17 laps) was Alonso, and he was actually the only driver to set a time. So he has a small advantage in knowing the wets with his car. Also with rain, the power difference of the engines will be dwarfed, so who knows? maybe a surprise result in Qualifying... Not saying that the rest have forgotten to race in rain, but Albert Park is tricky and if your not careful and you crash your car in FP3 or Q1 then your out... Just saying. Can't wait for tomorrow

    • + 0
    • Mar 23 2018 - 16:23
    • I was thinking the same. Noone tested in the rain more than McLaren. Early in day 4 it was also raining and only Vandoorne and Marcussen were doing laps then.

      • + 0
      • Mar 23 2018 - 16:31
  • siggy74

    Posts: 194

    As Eric said to Alonso and co "no body move. dont panic".

    " We have a plan for the tight packaging and exhaust issues,all pray for rain & dance"

    Alonso replys "what no deck chair"

    Eric " Do we look like a gp2 engine team"..

    Roll on the rain please this will make for some interesting fun to watch, and sort the men from the boys :) Go alonso

    • + 1
    • Mar 23 2018 - 18:25
  • Hepp

    Posts: 200

    Of all of the current drivers, I think Alo and Hulk are best in the wet.

    • + 0
    • Mar 23 2018 - 23:07

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 518
  • Podiums 9
  • Grand Prix 147
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (42)
  • Place of b. Oviedo, ES
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar