Alonso expects four teams to fight for title in 2011

A very relaxed Fernando Alonso greeted the crowd and the press at the “Ricardo Tormo” circuit yesterday. The Spaniard was present during the Ferrari World Finals, the special event, which for the past eighteen years has given fans from all over the world the opportunity to see gathered together those involved in all Ferrari’s racing and sporting activities.

Asked if he was disappointed with the team after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Alonso replied, “I am proud of what the Scuderia managed to achieve this season. In a year when we did not have the best car, we managed to get to the last race still in with a great chance of winning the title after staging a really strong recovery. In a race like that last one, anything could happen, as this is a sport, not pure maths. The comeback we mounted from the mid-point of the season onwards, the way in which we all pulled together, more united than ever, is much more important. There were races where we lost points, just as there were some where the others lost more, otherwise they would have won much earlier.

“So much has been said about Abu Dhabi, but it’s easy to talk with hindsight,” continued Fernando. “But I think that at Red Bull they would have made other choices after Korea for example. The team was very disappointed with the missed opportunity but Ferrari’s great strength is that does not sink into depression because of one mistake, on the contrary, it reacts to be even more determined the following year. “Personally, I really want to start again,” concluded the Spaniard. “I expect again that four teams – us, Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull – will be in the fight for the top. My first year at Ferrari was very nice and brought much satisfaction. If you think that at the beginning, I didn’t even know the name of all the mechanics, then the start of next season should definitely be more straightforward. We are proud of what we have done and, at the same time, aware we have to improve.”