Duel between Nico and Lewis good for F1 - Alonso
Fernando Alonso talked to the media representatives at Spa on Thursday. The two-time winner of both the world championship and the Italian GP spoke about the outlook on the power-dominated track of Monza, the change of the run-off area around the iconic corner of Parabolica. The Spaniard also recalled his heated duel with McLaren's Kevin Magnussen in Belgium.
Being a double winner, Alonso was asked if he thinks there is a chance to repeat that feat this year at the Monza Autodrome.
"Well, definitely I think it's one of the most important races for us in the year, here in front of our tifosi, and we would like to give them some good results on Sunday", the Spaniard said. "I've been extremely lucky to have been on the podium in the last four years and hopefully I can repeat that good feeling. It's going to be difficult. On paper it should be one of the toughest for us. But as you said, I think we saw some signs of being a little bit more competitive in Hungary and we were nearly on the podium in Spa as well with Kimi, so hopefully we can have that opportunity and as I said, being on this podium is something special."
Looking back on his battle with Kevin Magnussen at Spa-Francorchamps during the Belgian Grand Prix, Alonso reiterated the incident was really nothing to worry about, even though the Dane was later given a penalty by the race stewards following their close battle.
"Obviously, you know, we try always to fight and overtake. More than 30 laps behind Kevin in Spa and it was not easy to overtake. I had one chance with some cars in front of us and I took that opportunity and at the end I went a little bit on the grass. The race direction decided to penalise him at the end. We gained that position; we lost a couple more because of that fight but when you are fighting for sixth or seventh at the end of the race it's not a big deal."
On his history with current title candidate Lewis Hamilton, the Spaniard was also asked if there was a chance he could act as "an ambassador for piece" between Lewis and Nico, given his personal friendship with Lewis Hamilton following a difficult relationship with him during their time together at McLaren in 2007.
"Good! Ah, no I'm definitely not an ambassador for peace but yeah, I think 2007, I think it didn't work as we wanted. But, as I've said many times, it never was a problem with Lewis. We had a very professional relationship, very competitive people inside the team and that was quite normal. It didn't work because the team… I was not happy with some of the philosophies, and some of the team management at that point and I had more possibilities to go in different teams the year after and we decided to move forward from there. But I never had a problem with Lewis and it's not a surprise today that we still have a good relationship and I'm sure these guys will move forward.
"As Nico said, they have a clear target, which is winning the world championship, both of them. They are in a privileged position, which is to fight for that goal. From the outside we will try to enjoy as maximum this beautiful battle. The sport is made of these kind of things. They have a good problem: fight for the world championship."
