Alonso: “Ferrari is a unique team in the world”

Fernando, let's imagine in the Bahrain race a situation in which 3 cars are lined up one behind the other: what could happen?
The mobile wing can only be used for one straight per lap, so the most important thing would be to get to the last corner less than a second and a half behind those in front, which is difficult. I don't see the possibility of many overtaking honestly, I think it will continue to be difficult to overtake; and doing so will still require risk.

You have a month and a half ahead of you in which there will be 15 actual days of testing: how will you make use of the time you won't be in the car?
I believe that the days in which I won't be testing are also very important, and I will be on the track in any case when Felipe is in the car to follow the tests and development. The data that he can collect will also be useful to me and vice versa.

Do you think all the controls on the steering wheel take away the fun of driving?
More than anything I think that all these controls make driving very difficult; it is much more difficult than you might imagine to drive a Formula 1. From this year there are also two more buttons: the wing adjustment and the KERS. Driving a GT is certainly more fun and you can concentrate more on driving.

Are you at your ideal weight to ride this year? Does this year's higher riding position change anything about your style?
I have started my preparation and I plan to get to 100% shape for Australia, because we would like to prepare for the away games in Australia, Malaysia and China to be at our best. Last week I did a lot of work between cycling, swimming, running and neck exercises. The weight is fine, I don't think I have any problems with the KERS, also because the minimum weight of the machine has been raised to 640 kg. The seat and riding position don't change the rider's perspective much.

Can new parameters such as tire degradation change your driving style?
I don't know, we still have to try, let's see if the greater degradation of the tires is just speculation. Of course, one pit stop in the race instead of two means a lot, because for one stop you lose up to 25 seconds, which can perhaps be recovered in 30 laps.

What pressure do you put on yourself? Which team do you think can make a car that can compete with Ferrari?
The pressure I put on myself is very high. The motivation for the first months of the year is always the same, every year. I think I'm on a unique team, and this presentation proves it too. The other teams will make their presentations at the first test, just before shooting, and no one will speak, not the technicians, not the President.
To answer the question, I believe that Mercedes has the possibility of making a competitive car, as do McLaren and Red Bull; we have to fight with them.

How much of your own did you put into the 2011 car?
When I arrived in 2010 I found a very different car to those I had driven up to that point. This year however I gave my contribution, I think my riding style influenced the development a little, and now I know the people on my team, I have a good relationship with them and I constantly put pressure on them.