Want to come back fighting - Alonso
The Formula One 2005 World Champion, Fernando Alonso of the Mild Seven Renault F1 Team wants to bring his home fans the ultimate prize – a Spanish win in Barcelona. And he’s determined to succeed this weekend!
"In one sense, it is the same, a normal race with normal points. But the support in the grandstands brings more motivation. Hopefully we can have a good result on Sunday."
What has been the biggest difference, coming to Barcelona as World Champion?"Honestly, the attention was already very high. Last year, I arrived leading the championship with a 20-point lead, and there was a very optimistic atmosphere. So far it is the same, I arrive with the lead. And there is a lot of hope and optimism for the race."
As people arrive in Barcelona, they see your face on every other billboard. How does it feel?
"Strange, for sure! In the last two or three years, things have happened very quickly here. From half a million people watching the race in TV, we have ten or twelve million. Formula 1 is a sport the people talk about now in the street, they know everything from the races and my face is everywhere. For me it is a bit strange!"
At the last race, you said the tyres didn’t work perfectly. Will it be better here?"Tyre choice is a very hard thing. Here are Barcelona, we at least run on the circuit, so it is a bit easier. But for somewhere like Nürburgring, we test at a different track – so we have to make a bit of a guess, believe what Michelin recommend for the conditions. Michelin are normally strong with the tyres in Barcelona. I have full confidence we will make the right choice this weekend."
Have Ferrari become the big worry?"Not more than before – and McLaren and Honda are there too. Those four teams are the ones that are fighting to win each race. In the first five, it has been perfect for Renault and Ferrari, but Honda has the pace in qualifying, and McLaren come strong in the race. If they get their weekend right, it will be close. We need to focus on our job, our programmes and strategy, and have a smooth weekend. Then the result at the end will be good."
Teams are all talking about development. How do you compare between Ferrari, Renault and the others?"We saw Ferrari very strong in the last two races, but it is difficult to know how they compare because they are on different tyres. Compared to Honda and McLaren, I think we are improving at the same level as them. We have new things race by race, and we are beating them in the races. But the tyres are more important than anything else. Ferrari’s were good at the last race, and we want to come back fighting here."
Before the race in the Nürburgring, Bernie Ecclestone said you are not doing enough for the sport. What is your reaction?"I do not know exactly what he means. The team pay me to do my job: to go testing, do the promotional events, work with my sponsors, meet my obligations and do my maximum in the races. That is my job in Formula 1, and what my contract says, so I do not know what more I have to do. I will ask him."
Source Renaultf1
