Fernando Alonso: One more step to win

In Monaco, Fernando Alonso achieved the best result of the season and finished second…

Q: Fernando, well done. What emotions did the race in Monaco leave you with?
Fernando Alonso: I’m very happy. The match was not easy. When it started to rain, everyone was having a hard time. If you’re counting on the podium, you want to avoid unpredictable situations, safety car exits and so on. Fortunately nothing of the sort happened.

The drivers behaved great and confidently controlled their cars on a difficult stretch from turn five to turn eight. This year I came third several times, this time second. There is only one step left to victory.

Q: Did an extra pit stop when moving to Medium take away your chance of winning?
Fernando Alonso: Do not know. I got that question in a TV interview after the finish. But you know, I only saw the race from the cockpit, and not from the side, like all of you. It was pretty clear to me that on that lap, with the exception of Turns 7 and 8, the track was completely dry. Why put intermediate tires in such a situation?

The track was 99% dry. The forecast promised very light rain, there was a long break behind me – we had enough time to make another pit stop if necessary. But after the pit stop, the situation changed completely. Before the pit stop in turns 7-8-9 it was dry and after the asphalt was flooded I went back into the pits.

Q: How could the situation have developed if the track had stayed dry?
Fernando Alonso: Honestly, we didn’t stand a chance. We opted for a bold strategy. It’s weird when you start from the front row and play Hard while trying to do everything the other way around than the leader. It speaks to the team’s focus on success, how everyone at Aston Martin wanted to win.

We knew that with such a strategy we could be fifth or sixth, off the podium, but in the morning we discussed everything and decided that we already had podiums this year, so it was “all or nothing” and started on Hard.

Unfortunately, there was not enough speed. This was the only problem in the race. The strategy was right. But the Medium tires looked better than we expected. We were sure they would soon lose efficiency, but Max drove 50 laps at an amazing pace, which was the reason for his victory in the race. Not because of strategy: he was just faster than us.

Q: How far are you from the title fight? You are very stable – fourth, third, second – now you are 12 points behind Perez. Can you get close to Red Bull at a certain point in the season?
Fernando Alonso: Let’s see. In the 2000s or early 2010s I would have led the championship with the results I got this year, but now Red Bull and Max dominate every race and even with great results you fall behind. So I do not know.

In 2010 we didn’t have the best car and in Abu Dhabi we took the championship lead. In 2012 we didn’t have the best car either and we fought for the championship until the last round in Brazil. The season is long, we don’t give up.

We need weekends where Red Bull gets into trouble, like Sergio in Monaco, where he didn’t earn any points. If Max has one or two of those weekends, we’ll get closer. This is motorsport. Everything can happen. In terms of pure speed, we have no chance yet. But we’re not giving up.

Question: Ten years have passed since your last victory, won at the home Grand Prix of Spain. Can this success be repeated next weekend?
Fernando Alonso: We saw that it was exciting in qualifying, but in the race Red Bull completely dominated again. And it is worth acknowledging that the situation will repeat itself next weekend.

For the weekend at the traditional circuit, where we can evaluate the latest Mercedes and Ferraris. You must stand firmly on your feet. In Miami I said that we will only be seventh or eighth at some tracks this year. This must be accepted. But on other circuits we will fight for the podium.