GP China, Alonso: "the podium is our main objective"

Just four days after speaking to the media in Sepang, following the Malaysian Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso once again faced the press near the Shanghai circuit, in an even more modern and impressive setting.

Although it is impossible to comment on a season after just two races, the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver was asked to do so anyway. “I agree that we had some difficulties at the beginning of the season” began the Spanish driver. “The problem is that we are not fast enough, for reasons we don't yet know. But we know that we need to work, because there are no secrets in Formula 1 and aerodynamics is still the main factor influencing performance. If there is still a gap between us and the leaders it is because we need to improve mainly in this area. The championship is long, so now is the time to score as many points as possible and then, when we have a different car, we will need to get some victories. But at the moment, we have to be more realistic, be honest with ourselves and think of the podium as our main objective."

Inevitably, tires are still one of the main topics of interest to the media and Fernando provided his perspective on the subject at the right time. “In qualifying we struggle a little more than in the race, and this is for several reasons,” he said. “I don't think it's due to the tire temperature, since with the new tires everyone is able to do a good lap, but in the race in Malaysia it was more difficult to complete the 58 laps in qualifying mode. It's true that you can find a different pace with two different settings of the same type of tyre, but in Malaysia this depended on the track, which was good before but then worsened due to tire debris on the asphalt. We are learning more about the tires after these two races: in Malaysia we were prepared for four tire changes but here we can do a better race with what we have learned.”

The Ferrari driver hopes that the Shanghai track can be more suitable for the 150° Italia than the first two circuits. “With Malaysia only four days away, the cars will be very similar, so I expect another difficult weekend. But this is a different circuit and last year we noticed the differences between the two circuits from one car to the other. We hope that this will be good for us and that it will allow us to be closer to the top positions in qualifying and, above all, in the race, which is more important, given that the points are obtained on Sunday afternoon." As with the problem he had foreseen with the use of the movable rear wing for most of the last race, Fernando explained that everything has now been resolved. “The track should be a good test for the DRS thanks to the long straight of this circuit and it will be interesting to see how many points there are for overtaking,” said the Ferrari driver. “We solved the problem we had with the hydraulic connector that gave us problems in Malaysia.” As regards the penalty imposed on him in Sepang, he did not want to comment directly, sticking to a generic comment. “I think the organizers always work with safety as the first concern, in F1 and on the track, and I think we are achieving a high degree of consistency in decisions. This is a line they will follow throughout the season, we have to keep that in mind.”