Fernando Alonso said this afternoon that he is not too concerned about Red Bull’s superiority in Suzuka on Friday, and added that Ferrari has to keep the pressure on its rivals.
Alonso was fourth today, but almost a second off the best time of Sebastian Vettel.
“I’m sure there’s speed to come tomorrow,” said the Spaniard. “Always on Saturday you put everything on the car, all the best pieces, best set-up etc. But I guess for them, there is more to come as well. Always Saturday you put the race package. So surprises, we knew Red Bull was quick here, maybe the best circuit of the four. And we need to push them, as I said yesterday, and try to make them push as well, and not to have an easy weekend.”
Alonso believes that the expected wet weather could create some action tomorrow, but makes it clear that teams will also have to focus on the fact that Sunday is likely to be dry. In other words he thinks it’s better to focus on a set-up for Sunday, even if that compromises grid position.
“You always mix things in wet conditions. I expect a difficult day for everybody. You need to be at the best position possible, and knowing that the race is on Sunday, and with the dry conditions for Sunday as well, anything can happen.
“It’s a circuit that you normally have a possibility to overtake, so we don’t have to be too worried tomorrow in any of the positions we are. I expect tomorrow some teams will be quick in wet conditions, maybe Mercedes, Renault, Williams, and maybe they have a very good qualifying.”
Alonso says it’s hard to predict Ferrari’s own wet form: “Not much experience, to be honest. We did a couple of laps in Australia, then we switched to the dry tyres. In China as well we were OK. And in Spa it rained Friday morning, and we were P1. Overall I feel not too worried about the wet performance.
“We also know that in wet cases the luck factor is a big thing. You can have a lap with a little bit less water and you gain two seconds. You need to be in the right place at the right moment with the right tyre, so these kinds of things mix everything up.”
Adam Cooper F1 