Fernando Alonso knows he will have to be perfect on Saturday if he and Ferrari are to end Red Bull Racing's qualifying domination
Fernando Alonso knows he will have to be perfect on Saturday if he and Ferrari are to end Red Bull Racing's qualifying domination.
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| Pensive: Ferrari's Fernando Alonso. Pics/Getty Images, AFP |
Alonso offered a glimmer of hope yesterday that Red Bull might not have it all their own way around the streets of Monte Carlo after finishing quickest at the end of both practice sessions.
The Spaniard had previously only topped one of 15 practice periods over five Grand Prix's this season, but would now appear to have a genuine shot at repeating his 2006 and 2007 victories.
Red Bull, though, have been in a league of their own, claiming pole at all five races and locking out the front row in three of those.
But Alonso found a rhythm and is hoping he will again be in the groove on Saturday following the traditional day off on Friday.
"This is a circuit where you need to get confidence as soon as possible," said the double world champion.
"It is a circuit you need to feel okay in the car and to maximise the potential.
"So it was very good to start in such a way because we now don't need to go crazy, to completely change the set-up or find a miracle for tomorrow.
"We now just need continuity with the set-up and the way we do our runs.
"Overall, I think we found a very good car from the beginning that is very easy to drive.
"But we know it will be close in qualifying as we saw yesterday, with just three tenths of a second separating seven or eight cars.
"So we cannot afford any mistake on our side or with the set-up. We need to be perfect tomorrow."
Like most of the drivers fighting it out for pole, Alonso is just as concerned at the prospect of traffic that could scupper his hopes.
With 24 cars on track during the opening 20 minutes of qualifying, the battle to scrape into Q2 will likely be a fraught, frantic affair.
"It will be difficult for everybody, a challenge for all of us," added the 28-year-old.
