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Fernando Alonso says that the top six drivers are in "another league" after qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix. Alonso made it into Q3 for the first time this season, and will line up on tomorrow's grid in eighth place, barring any overnight penalties.
McLaren arrived in Barcelona with a number of upgrades, most notably to its front wing. The Spaniard missed out on the 'best of the rest' slot to Kevin Magnussen, who beat Alonso to seventh. However, Alonso admits he is still happy with his result.
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"I am happy with that, P8 is a good position. Probably the downside of this is still the gap. The top six are in another league. [I’m] definitely happy with the step forward for this race. Everything we brought to the track has delivered on its expectation. We just need more new parts as soon as possible."
"We had been P13 three times in a row and today we took that step forward we needed," Alonso told Sky Sports F1. "Probably the downside of this position is still the gap, with the top six, they are in another league.
"And we need to keep chasing and closing that gap race after race. At least the positive note is that everything we brought for the car works as expected. Now we need to bring more things as quickly as possible."
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Replies (7)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
They really are, far superior to the rest, even if things are closer than ever.
RogerF1
Posts: 501
I really hate to see a Noah’s Ark starting line up, maybe Max will spice it up a bit, get a bit of silver and red paint on his sidewalls. Pity Vandoorne can’t milk the McLaren potential like Alonso can.
TimberVD
Posts: 42
Max's starts have been pretty good so far, so we should be careful what we wish for. But if he could be just a little bit more patient, there is definitely greatness there. There are quite a bit of similarities with young Vettel.
Regardless, I'm really glad there is a Red Bull team with two fantastic drivers. It sure would have been a lot more boring without those two. For better or for worse.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Oh yes definitely. Although I'd probably rank him as more Sennaesque, Vettel is more technical. And I do like how Red Bull have two competitive drivers And let them race to boot.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Looking forward to what Alonso can manage to do tomorrow in the race. They are supposed to have better race pace unless that changed with the update.
michielhimself
Posts: 132
And yet, one of those "other league" teams has the same engine in the back as that of 2016's "best chassis on the grid". Is it sinking in finally, Fernando?
The McLaren you joined isn't the McLaren you left - not by a long shot.
So much for the B (Boullier) car ... not impressive at all.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
It might be for all we know. But it doesnt matter. Boullier promised McLaren fans the universe, and now it can only disapppoint. Which is a shame, because they havent done a bad job. They are just not Red Bull, and very few on the grid are.