Ferrari, Alonso: “Today we knew we had a good chance”

Fernando Alonso said his third place in the United States Grand Prix was so satisfying that it could be compared to a victory after a disappointing qualifying.

The Ferrari driver had qualified in ninth position, which later became eighth due to the replacement of the gearbox in Romain Grosjan's car. However, the Spanish driver started from seventh place as the team decided to penalize Massa by five positions by opening the gearbox of his single-seater, thus giving the Asturian a better chance at the start.

He admitted that the first lap was crucial to his hopes.

“We know that the championship is alive thanks to the first laps,” Alonso said. “We always qualified around seventh, eighth place, and finished the first lap in the top three or four positions, and after the race it becomes easier if you're in the leading group.”

“Today we knew we had a good chance. I tried to overtake some cars at the first corner, I got into a good rhythm and we were in the leading group.”

“Today it was not possible to keep the pace of these two guys (Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton, ed.). They were too far ahead. I had enough to keep the riders behind me.”

“This weekend is like a victory for us. Losing just three points was something no one had thought about last night or on Friday after free practice. So we are happy to have had a good Sunday and to have scored valuable points.”

Alonso, who has not won a race since the German Grand Prix in July, needs to finish the next race in at least third position to have a chance of winning the drivers' championship. If he wins, however, Vettel would have to finish the race outside the top four.

“We're going to Brazil with the chance to fight for the championship,” he has declared. “It's something we've been fighting for all year.”

“Only Seb is in a better position than us. We should be proud of ourselves, enjoy the race and see what the result will be.”

Gianluca Latina