Alonso: “It will be a good year”

Fernando Alonso was relieved after qualifying for the Australian GP. While McLaren features the Power Unit for the first time Renault, the MCL33 of the double world champion finished at the gates of Q3, falling one tenth behind the Renault R.S. 18 of Nico Hulkenberg.

“I was very happy with the way qualifying started, commented the Asturian at the end of the session. We're always curious to see how we'll do and I think we were pretty quick, especially during FP3 when the track was wet. We were still between seventh and 12th place in Q1 and Q2. It’s a good starting point with the many developments we have available. It was a relief to see where we were in qualifying and to feel that it will be a good year. »

If Fernando Alonso will have the choice of tires having stopped in Q2, the McLaren driver does not think he can gain a real advantage by relying on a different strategy.

“We always use the soft tires because we can get a better start, we are faster on the first lap. We will also have low degradation because the three types of tires are very similar. so there’s not much to play for.”, said the Spaniard.

Fernando Alonso should start from tenth place on the grid following the accident Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes). The Finn will fall five places on the grid following a gearbox change on his W09. As for Stoffel Vandoorne, Alonso's teammate, the Belgian will start from 11th place after finishing less than two tenths behind the first McLaren.