Alonso misses the boat

While he was very competitive in Q1 (Timo Glock was even penalized for preventing him from being more competitive), Fernando Alonso was eliminated during the second phase of the qualifying session, obtaining only the twelfth time. Due to intermittent rain and bad timing, the Spaniard saw his opponents get ahead of him. The double world champion sums up the situation, taking this result on the positive side. “ We started the session with optimism. We were competitive in Q1 but then Q2 was very difficult for everyone. The conditions were constantly changing and we missed the opportunity to advance to Q3. I hope we can gain positions tomorrow: if it rains, my position could actually be an advantage. I'm pretty confident for the race. »

As for Nelson Piquet, it’s a first! In two seasons, that is to say in 27 Grands Prix (see elsewhere), the Brazilian had never managed to dominate his teammate. So, having entered the top 10, Piquet can be satisfied with this result. “ The conditions were difficult today, but I got through it by having the right tires at the right time. It's a shame not to have done better than 10th in Q3, but I'm satisfied to have entered the top 10. This gives me the possibility of scoring points tomorrow. » The Brazilian will have the opportunity to prove that he is better than what he is given credit for, in a period where his ouster is once again in fashion in the paddock.