A missed opportunity for Alonso

Disrupted by rain, the Renault F1 Team race ended out of the points. Without a masterful spin, Fernando Alonso could have climbed into the top 8. As for Nelsinho Piquet's race, it almost speaks for itself...

Published on 19/04/2009 à 15:00

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To Fernando Alonso, the outcome of this Chinese GP is necessarily negative: “The team did a good job in making improvements to the R29 and we proved that we were competitive yesterday by qualifying on the front row. Today, I would say that we made the wrong choices at the wrong times. We thought the safety car would be deployed for 10-15 laps, so we opted to refuel before the real start. Unfortunately, she returned when I was in the pits. So I returned to the track dead last, even though I qualified on the front row! »

Everything is almost said for the driver from Oviedo, forced to fight in the peloton to try to grab a few points. Trapped by aquaplaning, the double World Champion spun on the 38th lap, while he was in 9th place.

Sixteenth and dead last in this GP, Nelsinho Piquet's only satisfaction was the fact of having seen the checkered flag: “With non-existent visibility and permanent aquaplaning, staying on the track was a challenge. I had a few scares during the race, but I managed to continue on my way. »