Ferrari, Alonso: “We need to improve the car in terms of pure speed”

In a paddock overlooking the body of water of the San Lorenzo River, on a sunny day, Fernando Alonso faced the press at lunchtime in the first meeting of the weekend. The opening question was very simple: what must Ferrari do to maintain the lead in the standings. The answer is equally concise. “We need to improve the car in terms of pure speed,” said the Spanish driver.

“On Sunday we are normally a little more competitive, taking advantage of all the experience of the team and the talent of the people regarding the preparation of the car, how we manage the starts and the strategies we choose. But we know we are not fast enough, especially on Saturdays where everyone is in the same conditions, that is, with little fuel and new tyres. Sometimes we struggle to get into Q3, and we're not close to pole position anyway. If we are not fast enough, if we are not the fastest, we cannot stay at the top of the championship. We hope to see another step forward from the team here in Canada that will once again allow us to be close to the best. But we won't know if we have succeeded until the end of qualifying."

Although Fernando Alonso only took one victory at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the Ferrari driver still likes this track. “I like driving here. It is a special circuit, which cannot be compared to any other on the calendar. It has many corners where good traction is needed, and there are long straights that require heavy braking. The asphalt has low grip and the walls are very close together, meaning there is no room for error. It's a challenging track. Historically I've had ups and downs here, so I want to do well this year. In nine races here in Montreal, I retired five times, which is not a normal average for me. Hopefully we can change those numbers this year.”

If the world is amazed to see a Ferrari driver leading the Drivers' Championship, the same amazement is shared by Fernando. “I'm surprised, after a completely different 2011, in which he dominated a single-seater and where Sebastian, at this point in the season, was ahead of everyone by something like a hundred points,” declared Fernando. “This year is very different, which must be a surprise to everyone, the way things have changed from one year to the next. I've liked the season so far, which has turned out to be unpredictable, but at the same time the top teams are leading the championship. So even if some of the mid-table teams are doing well, creating some surprises, in the end consistency and experience are factors that allow you to collect points on Sunday. Sooner or later I believe the situation will stabilize and be more normal than it is now. To win the title you need to be consistent in this situation where we have had six different winners in six races, but if in July, when we have four GPs, a rider wins two, then we will need something more than consistency to win the title".

The tires have been credited or blamed, depending on your point of view, for the unusual podiums and results of this first part of the season. An assessment not shared by the Ferrari driver. “I don't think tires matter that much and, in fact, it's a similar situation to last year,” argued Fernando. “I don't agree with those who say that whoever manages the tires best always wins. In Australia Jenson won because he was the fastest in free practice, qualifying and the race. In Malaysia we won the race in the rain, in China Rosberg dominated for the entire weekend. And in Monaco the winner started from pole position. So I don't think it all depends on the tyres, even if they have a short life and there is a point where they suddenly lose grip: it's not a progressive degradation. It's a bit strange but it's like that for everyone."

Finally, the inevitable question about the European Football Championships, considering that Spain will play against Italy this weekend. “I will have another priority and I will be focused on the match, but obviously I hope Spain wins.”