Fernando Alonso plays down high Singapore expectations

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Fernando Alonso plays down high Singapore expectations

Published on 16 Sep 2016 12:06
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By: Fergal Walsh

McLaren driver Fernando Alonso has played down talk that McLaren can spring a big surprise at this weekends Singapore Grand Prix.

Alonso's team-mate Jenson Button has stated that McLaren are the fourth best team this weekend but Alonso appears to be less optimistic about a strong result.

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"Let’s see how it goes but I think top six is very optimistic, with two Mercedes, two Red Bulls and two Ferraris I think those six positions are more or less fixed in every race and I don’t think that here will be different but after that I think it opens the possibility that probably we are fighting for."

"This is different compared to Spa and Monza where we were not able to be in Q3. I think here we should be in Q3 if everything goes OK and also both cars in the points on Sunday."

"We really need that and we really want to achieve that to consolidate also a little bit the constructors’ championship in front of Toro Rosso, they will also be strong here so it’s an interesting weekend for us and I think from now on after Belgium and Italy I think all the races should be in the points and we need to start delivering that result here."

"On paper there are better circuits coming but then you need to execute the race properly. Last year we came here with some optimism. We were 12th and 15th in qualifying and two DNF in the race so it’s not as easy as it seems.”

Alonso has won the Singapore Grand Prix twice, infamously in 2008 and in 2010. Alonso mentioned that they came with high expectations last year but had a disappointing Saturday and Sunday. When asked if McLaren can challenge for a podium he said:

"I think it’s very difficult with Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull’s performance right now. We will try to do our best probably it’s a little bit over-optimistic feeling about the chances here for McLaren because also last year I remember we were not competitive but here we were 12th and in Abu Dhabi and in Austin we were eighth in qualifying."

"So I think there are better circuits than Singapore for us coming this year but saying that also I think this weekend we can perform quite well and being in the points is the target.”

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