Fernando Alonso qualified in his traditional 2011 fifth position in Japan, and the Spaniard is hoping that a little bad luck for those ahead could give him a chance to get on the podium.
“It went quite OK for us, no problems,” said Alonso of his qualifying session. “Fifth is quite a good position. I started fifth in 90% of the races this year, normally behind two McLarens and two Red Bulls. Today I have Mark behind but Felipe in front, so I’m still fifth once more.
“Hopefully tomorrow I’m starting on the clean side, and I think with a lot of pit stop strategy, because the tyres are degrading quite a lot, we can see an interesting race, and hopefully take any opportunity that Sebastian and the two McLarens give us to be on the podium, because with a normal race I think those three positions are already in the pocket for them.”
Alonso expects the degradation to lead to multiple pit stops: “It has been quite high, but normally on Sunday it improves. I think it will be from two to four stops, but I think more three or four.”
Adam Cooper F1 