Alonso won’t give up: “If there’s a chance…”

Fernando Alonsofar from regretting that Max Verstappen will take pole position in Monaco ‘in extremis’, on the horn, for only 84 thousandths, I became happy. I thought more. He knows where Aston Martin comes from and should be considered the best prize possible to fight with the current world champion and the dominant car. He was nothing short of achieving pole position, but the native of Oviedo was smiling in the fight for a first position, something that would have been unthinkable just a few months ago. The Spaniard will start this Sunday 2nd behind a Verstappen who has a special connection with him. He goes to greet him, he checks the ‘qualification’ with the Dutchman, talking about how much they are stuck to the walls. Fernando was satisfied and continued talking to the current king of F1, about whom he had launched a joke attack before the race.

“I feel good, pole position obviously means a lot here in Monaco, but Max is faster, it’s a shame. But I think a front row for us is something very big. That last sector is our weak point in the circuit, let’s see what we can do tomorrow in strategy and if there is anything in the weather but we will try to win”, said the Spaniard at the foot of the track.

“There is a very short run until the first corner but normally we have started well, and Max is somewhat inconsistent so maybe tomorrow he will do something wrong,” he said about the start between final laughs and his comment about a Verstappen that he knows. overtaking in Monaco will be very difficult, almost impossible due to the dimensions of the current cars. However, Fernando does not lose hope. He knows any mistake, Red Bull problem, perhaps the arrival of rain, or any ‘Safety Car’ could change the race and give him the chance to achieve his long-awaited 33rd F1 victory.

“To tell you the truth, I expect a quiet race. I know there may be some risk of rain which I think only favors the out of position. For us who started in the top 3, the race was calmer. If Max has no problem, 2nd place is our target. But it’s 78 laps, Monaco is very demanding with the gearbox, brakes and engine temperature, so there could be a mechanical problem that makes it easy for us to win… a bad pit stop, even though they are the kings of the pit stop, we are still lucky in a race. .. or a strategy or safety vehicle. So we have to be calm, watch the checkered flag and if it’s 2nd, 2nd, if it’s 3rd, 3rd, and if it’s a win, win, but don’t make a mistake.”later he voiced on ‘DAZN F1’.

IN THE LAST 7 YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN ONLY 2 WINS FROM THE POLE AT MONACO:

“It’s pretty good considering that statistic (smiles). But it’s a long race. I don’t think there’s really a chance to overtake because it’s Monaco, but it’s a very demanding race for the car, for the gearbox, the brake “There are many things you have to take care of. You have to focus and hit the approach and the stop. Anything can happen and if there’s an opportunity, we’ll take it.”

THE BEGINNING AND TRAINING OF THE RACE

“There is a small space, it is very narrow and then there is a very small distance from the exit to the first corner, so I don’t think we have in mind to attack Max, because it is impossible, or for Leclerc to pass us , because it’s very difficult for him to get it. The little I say: keep the position, don’t make mistakes, don’t have a touch in the first corners that can compromise the race later on… it seems easy on Sunday but you have to do it calmly and score the points” .

THE CLASSIFICATION

“You don’t know here in Monaco. Anything can happen. There can always be incidents, yellow flags, red flags … so the good thing is to put a lap on the bank and be on top. And when they told me that I was in first and Tsunoda and Max (Verstappen) were completing the lap, I knew that the possibility of being second was there. I feel like pole is very close and we have to be happy because we come here with some concerns about our performance on Saturday.”

SECOND PLACE IN KUALY IS GIVEN FOR GOODNESS

“It was close. The truth is when I saw the times at the end… it was very close, but you shouldn’t be discouraged by the first row. We came here with a little bit of concern because we were very good on Sunday and we took good care of our tires, but on Saturday we had a bit of a hard time warming up and we didn’t want to qualify badly in Monaco because then Sunday is worthless. I am very happy to be on the front line. The ‘deserve’ to live is so intense. Now we’re starting on the front line, so we’ve done the job now.”

OUT OF LIMITATION

“If I could do something else? I think not (laughs). I think both Q3 runs we’ve raised the risk level to a low comfort level, if you will, and both Q3 runs have gone over the limit at times.

THE LAST SECTOR, THE KEY

“Although everything has gone well, the last sector seems to be our weakness at this circuit. I think we were already the eighth team in Free Practice in that sector so we need to analyze something there, maybe for Singapore or the next opportunity that arises. current”.