"We need Alonso’s spark"

Ferdinand Alonso begin to negotiate his future Alpine and listen to offers from the summer, and before that, Otmar Szafnauer, Alpine Team Principalattend the MD and a small group of the Spanish press to discuss the possible continuation of the Asturian and what the two-time champion will bring to the team.

What do you like best about Spain?

It’s a great country, with great wine, good weather, paella … (laughs).

And the Alonso country.

In my 25 years in F1 I have never worked with Alonso. He is a great champion and a great competitor. In Spain they should be proud.

Do you think of Alonso at Alpine next year?

I can think of many things. We haven’t started to seriously consider things for next year because we’re just at the beginning of this season. But of course we should consider Fernando. He is a great competitor and very integrated and fun with the team. And for those reasons, we would be very foolish not to consider extending his contract. But these kinds of decisions were made later on all teams.

Fernando only added two points, is that against him?

No. We understand why you have a colon. Once Mick Schumacher touched him, his pump broke and on another occasion Sainz blocked him from qualifying. So we understand the reasons. Not Ferdinand’s fault.

What does it feel like to work with him with hungry success? How can you tell him that now he is not yet worthy to win and he has to wait?

Fernando is brilliant. Really smart. He knows the limitations of our vehicle and the team, which are their limitations. He knows this and he doesn’t come and tell you: ‘we have to win’. He knew after practice. What it says is we need to perform to the maximum of what the car has. And, number two: he always pushes for us to make improvements on the car before other teams take steps forward. This is why Alonso pushed, and it was normal. And I push the exact same thing.

Some teams brought good news. When will Alpine have a great evolution in its car?

It depends on the strategy of the teams and the budget ceiling. One strategy is to understand the car and put it all into one evolution, which is cheaper than putting one evolution here, another there and another there. In the next race we will have a new floor for 4 races. You have to understand that the biggest production area of ​​‘downforce’ (aerodynamic grip) today is the ground, while last year it was the wings and much more. There is also body evolution on the road and new engine hood.

“The goal is the championship in the next 100 races,” he said when it comes to Alpine.

I didn’t say that before, did I? Well, I didn’t lie (laughs). Fighting for titles is not something that is easy to achieve. Why are we competing? Of course, to win. But you also need to understand that the 9 other teams want to do the same. Who won today? Only two or three have a chance. So hard, but not impossible to reach them. We said that in 4 years we wanted to be the best, so Alpine would be the best. We need to speed up and learn to be faster. And that’s the plan, but it takes time.

De Meo (Renault group CEO) said the team needs a winning mentality.

Culture is the most important. We need the spark that, for example, Fernando Alonso needs to win, and if he doesn’t win, he’s very sick and he feels it.

Do they have money for it?

We have the money.

They said they needed Fernando Alonso’s fire and hunger. Why don’t you present him now with a renewal contract?

Because the ‘timing’ of teams in F1, according to tradition, means that these things are done later. Now we need to focus on getting Fernando to get the points he deserves.

Will you sign another success and podium this year?

Last year, Esteban won a race and Fernando climbed to a podium, seven years after the previous one. But we must remember that under normal conditions it is possible that none of these results occurred, without detracting from any merit, because they took advantage of their opportunities without error. We should first try to repeat it and then improve it. This year, we will fight for the podiums, but we should try to do better.