Fernando Alonso: “What a wonderful place to host a race…”

Fernando Alonso insisted today that Abu Dhabi holds no bad vibes him, despite it being the race where the 2010 World Championship slipped away.

The Spaniard pointed out that the title was lost over a full season rather than the one race.

“With respect to last year’s there’s not any special motivation to do well here,” said Alonso. “I’m still convinced that last year we didn’t lose the championship here in Abu Dhabi. We were not very competitive, we finished seventh. Maybe our realistic result last year was fifth.

“But in Valencia or Silverstone for example we were fighting for a podium, and we scored two zeroes there. So I think we lost the championship there, and not here in Abu Dhabi.

“Motivation is very high always, to get a podium especially. I have 72 podiums so far, so 72 trophies at home from all the circuits in the calendar, apart from Abu Dhabi. There is only one trophy missing at home, and hopefully this year and in the next coming years I can put Abu Dhabi as well there.”

Asked what went through his mind when he first arrived back one year on, Fernando said he liked the venue.

“When I arrived here I felt very good. I arrived last night, I went to sleep, and this morning I woke up and I went to the swimming pool here in the hotel. From there I saw the paddock, with the boats here, with the colours, I saw the asphalt with the blue paint on the outside. Nice temperature. And I said what a wonderful place to host a race.

“And also the flight was very convenient. Maybe because we came from India and Korea, which was not very comfortable, the flight etc, with five hours drive. When I arrived here I said what a wonderful place. I know it’s strange because we lost the championship, but that was honestly my first impression. Maybe tomorrow I’ll change that…”

Alonso said that he still wants to beat Jenson Button to second in the championship, mainly as a reward for the team.

“Definitely, it’s something, it’s better second that fourth or fifth. But we are competitive people, we like to win, and when we cannot arrive first, it’s not the same. It’s much more important to learn things for next year, to gain half a tenth for next year with some checks than to finish second in the championship.

“But at the same point I see all the guys, all the mechanics and the engineers really pushing to help me to arrive to this second place, because we know the tough year we had, we know the problems we faced in some parts of the year. I see an atmosphere in the team really motivated to help me gets second in the drivers’ championship. For them I will try to do my best for sure.”