Alonso relaxed about engine situation + Q & A

[icegirljenni]

Alonso relaxed about engine situation

Quote:"At the moment we are not too worried," he said. "Obviously we don't want to lose any engines or have any problems with the gearbox or anything like that. We've been very strong all winter so we cannot be happy with the problems we've had in the first races.

"But in terms of engines, the plan hasn't changed too much. The only difference now with the engine problems we had is that we will use more kilometres with the engines on Fridays, so later in the season some Friday engines will be a little bit older. But in terms of race engines on Saturday and Sunday, we will stay with the original plan."

He was also relieved that his failure happened during what was already a difficult race, rather than when he was set to win. Alonso was only running ninth when he retired at Sepang as Ferrari's qualifying mistakes left him 19th on the grid, and he had then been hampered by a time-consuming gearshift problem.

"I think it's very important to finish all the races, but obviously when you have to have a DNF, it's better to retire when you're ninth as I was, because I only lost two points," said Alonso.

"When you are in the first three positions, you lose a lot more points. Okay it was a shame to retire, but I think sooner or later all the drivers will have a problem, because this is life. So hopefully I lost only two points."

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Full Q & A with Fernando Alonso here

Click above link for full Q & A , i am just quote some interesting part.

Quote:Q. From what you've seen of the development plans, are you confident Ferrari can take the big steps it needs to stay up front?

FA: Yes. I have no doubts that Ferrari will improve a lot during the season and we have the potential to improve the car very quickly - as we saw in the last 10 years in the championship. So on that aspect I'm not worried.

We know McLaren also has the same potential - or even more, as we saw how McLaren improved during the season last year. We are optimistic that we will improve the car consistently every race and have a very strong championship, but we also know that our competitors are very strong.

Q. Is the FIA's clarification on ride height systems good for Ferrari?

FA: I think it can be good for us. I don't see any disadvantage for our team with that clarification in the rule. For the other teams, I'm not sure of their situation. In terms of us, everything remains the same as Malaysia, so maybe it's a good thing.

Q. How big an advantage is McLaren's F-duct at Shanghai?

FA: It will be an advantage, no doubt. It is one of the longest straights in the championship and we know how efficient the McLaren is on the straights and what their top speed in the first races was. We saw McLaren very competitive in Malaysia, especially with Lewis [Hamilton] in the dry. But I still think that Red Bull will have a little advantage over everybody again here.

We will have a difficult weekend, I'm sure Red Bull and McLaren will put us in some difficulties, but we will try our best and hopefully we can beat them here.

Q. When will Ferrari run its own F-duct?

FA: Not sure. I know that we keep developing the car, but it's not maybe the first priority for us, that system. We keep working on our philosophies. There is an important step here to improve the car, and I know that there is more coming in the next races. I'm not specifically worried only about that system.

Q. If you had finished in Malaysia you would probably have had to change the gearbox for China and received a five-place grid penalty here. So did it turn out better to retire from ninth and only lose two points?

FA: Difficult question. No one likes to lose five positions, but no one likes to lose a championship for two points. I'll answer at the end of the year...

[sagarakaalonso]

This year it's Alonso's 3rd Title and he knows it. Nothing can stop it...

[VoRteX]

what do you guys think about this reliability issues?

i see a "Y=probability" vs "X=points-at-end-of-season" graph reshaping but always moving to the left a tiny bit at a time.
tiny bits that add up to an non-discardable amount.
but its good for him not to worry.
and its encouraging to see Fernando control his thoughts and emotions.
phsycological factor demands it to be discarded.
only to be remembered at the moment of making balance at the end of the season.

i wish he needs to use that 9th motor near end of season.
and take the penalty...
and still win the championship


Un saludo desde España a todos los soñadores y analistas locos de alonso-planet.com

[Chrissie]

Haha, I like your sig

[icegirljenni]

lol at forst i thought you came in as another acc eh?

[Tension_36th]

He will use the 9th engine now after loosing yet another engine and 1 out of the remaining 6 is cant be used in races as it is now being used for Fridays only. If he looses another engine then its more penalties.

The rest is just Ferrari PR, he wont tell the situation is bad and that the team did a donkey job in the last race's strategies. Ferrari will sack him for being blunt. When he was at Renault we could atleast hear him say the situation is not good but now its PR parroting.

[Chrissie]

I thought it was me at first too until I saw the name and realised I hadn't posted on this thread yet


Well, I suppose I should be flattered

[maranellored]

Vortex - Love the siggie !!! Muy divertido

Well, Fernando may not be worried but I am. And why is it that only Alonso's car is suffering? I'm not saying that there is a conspiracy but it's most annoying.

Maths: 6 engines/16 races = Championship over.

Not to worry, this wasn't his year anyway.

[GQgirl]

In a way, i like all the factors, difficulties n differences about the cars that r discussed here, so I know the odds facing him and why when someone takes the title.

Yet knowing him, it is in ALONSO's fashion that he will prevail.

Alonso is both an outstanding performer and corporate man. ..what it takes for top branding of a car company, a race competition like F1 or any other would need. It requires high discipline, model character and incisive intelligence to be all that Alonso is.

[Tension_36th]

High discipline doesn't fit him. he was party to espionage at Mclaren, doesn't make anyone in F1 much a disciplined saint. They will all cheat if given the chance to get away with it. He didn't care for towing the team's press lines before until he joined Ferrari. He has changed his ways to bend over backwards for ferrari, a shame really.