Fernando Alonso He was not satisfied at Monza, despite finishing once again in the points and within the ‘top ten’ of the race (8th). The Spaniard arrives in Russia convinced that he can improve that result, although always realistic about his chances this year with Alpine. He remains 10th overall in the championship, to which he has returned after two years absent, and gets 5 points from his teammate Esteban Ocon.
“We think Monza was one of the worst weekends for us in terms of the layout and characteristics of our set. So here it should go a little better in Sochi. You never know, because you have to feel comfortable with the car, the setting. it has to be in place on Friday … Also, the weather seems a bit uncertain at the moment, or even quite humid for Saturday. So it will be important to have a clean Friday, because it may be the only batch dry that you have. You never know, but surely we have more confidence here than in Monza, “he said. Fernando at the official press conference this Thursday, prior to the Russian Grand Prix.
“The podium? We are a long way from that. I think we are the fifth or sixth fastest team on the grid, so difficult. For us to get a podium, we really need a very chaotic race. And yes, without that, I think that For sheer performance, I think being in the top six or seven is our top position. We’ve done it in a few races this year, and I’m happy with the consistency. And yes, you have to be very lucky to get a podium; I don’t. I have had so far. I do not expect to have it in the remaining races either. If it comes, it will obviously be welcome, but I think we have to work with realistic expectations, “he said. Alonso.
With everything, Alonso has recognized that the atmosphere in the team is positive, both for what has been achieved this year and for the expectations for 2022, with the arrival of the new regulation. “There has been a very good environment in the team so far, a good atmosphere, and yes, I can’t ask for anything more at the moment. We are going to try to push together Esteban and I to help Alpine in the Constructors’ championship, which is going to be very tight with Aston Martin and AlphaTauri as well. So we need the best of both of them every weekend. It has been very tight this year. At first, I was not even close. So it was very helpful to have Esteban on his better version and trying to catch up with a very quick reference. I was able to make my adaptation a little shorter thanks to Esteban. Next year will be a challenge. “
Finally, the Asturian rider referred to the possibility of rain and the comparison of Sochi with the situation experienced this year in Spa: “I know that the visibility was not very good in Sochi. I think it is a very flat track; there is no elevation changes here so the water builds up quite a bit. I remember turn 1 was pretty tough, which isn’t a normal turn, but it was in the wet. For Sunday, let’s keep our fingers crossed that it’s not so wet or don’t rain too much, because the visibility will be bad, and we don’t want to see anything like in Spa, that’s for sure. “