Fernando Alonso: “We were a little below the last races in terms of pace”

MADRID, 2 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Spanish driver Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) has assured that he has been “a little below” the last races in terms of pace this Sunday at the Austrian Grand Prix, where he finished sixth, and considers that they should study “certain patterns ” that are repeated in certain circuits such as Red Bull Ring.

“You always expect a little more, especially with the run we had this year of podiums. You always have that hope in the race to go a little faster. We didn’t go too well all weekend and in the race we kept our pace a bit , a little below the last races,” he said in statements to DAZN.

For this reason, he believes that it is necessary to “understand why”. “Last year in Austria, Aston Martin was the tenth team, this year we suffered again; Haas was very fast in Austria last year, they were starting sixth and seventh, and this year they were good too. Certain patterns are repeated from year to year and we have to understand why so as not to repeat next year and go slow again,” he said.

In addition, the Asturian valued positively the points cut from Mercedes in the Constructors’ World Championship. “We have gotten a little closer to Mercedes, counting the sprint and today. We have lost points with Ferrari because they have taken a step forward, but it is what it is. Every weekend there will be ups and downs for everyone, and this one has been a bit low for We will have an opportunity for revenge in a week,” he said.

In another order of things, Alonso explained why he tried to get so close to the British Lando Norris (McLaren) in the last few laps, despite the fact that he had no chance of overtaking him. “They told me that he was between five seconds away from Lando -Norris- and ten away from Carlos -Sainz-, because he could also have a penalty of ten”, he stressed.

“You always try to be within those limits and not make a mistake so as not to lose position with the car behind. There is always a bit of tension. It is a race that I have to watch on TV, because we came out with the hardest, trying to lengthen the first stop, but with ‘virtual safety car’ on lap 12 or 13 the advantage of going out with the hard ones was neutralized”, he concluded.