Formula 1, Alonso: “I would be in the fight for pole position”

Spaniard Fernando Alonso went off the track on his first attempt in Q3 due to a problem in the Alpine A522’s hydraulic system. His claims of a top spot in tomorrow’s Melbourne race are borne out by the fact that he set the fastest time of all in Q3 on that fast lap in the middle of the Albert Park circuit.

His exit and collision with the protective tires meant he did not set a quick lap in Q3 and will therefore start the Australian GP from 10th place.

“It’s unbelievable how unlucky we are because 20 seconds later we might have been on pole if the car had stopped later at Turn 1 instead of Turn 11. It’s hard to explain these races.” said the two-time world champion at the end.

Discussing the car’s problem, he added: “The box stopped working. The engine also died, as did the hydraulic steering. “I think that’s something we’ll have to investigate when the car comes back.”

The 41-year-old Alpine rider continued: “The problem is worrying and only occurs in my car. In the other car [του Εστεμπάν Οκόν] everything seems to be fine. That’s why I say we’re a bit unlucky because if we had problems with both cars, there would be a more general problem. It’s probably something we’ll have to do – but it looks casual.

And it appears in my car when we’re fast. If he shows up in Bahrain we would be 9th or 10th, we wouldn’t care because it was just a point or two. “But today, with 2nd or 3rd place guaranteed, I think it hurts us.”

However, Alonso expressed optimism about the sequel: “I think the car is getting better and better. We feel safer. The team works hard. I mean, we were surprised that we got pole position, but not that we’re getting closer and closer to the champions. “Yes, that was my best three days in years and it’s annoying that it didn’t work out in the end.”