Sunday: A Grand Prix to Forget for Alonso, Räikkönen, and Ferrari
While Ferrari's top boss complained about the lack of spectacle in Formula 1 on the sidelines of the Bahrain Grand Prix, his team had to settle for salvaging a few championship points on a track that does not suit the F14-T. Fernando Alonso and Kimi Räikkönen are now looking forward to the tests scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Fernando Alonso (No. 14) – 9th
After securing two fourth places in the first two Grand Prix of the season, Fernando Alonso experienced a race far from the podium today: « We knew what to expect given that with its long straights, this track exposes our weaknesses. » Handicapped by a qualifying issue addressed in the meantime, the Spaniard had a perfect start and strategy. The safety car allowed us to catch up a bit on the cars ahead of us and to save some fuel. » That said, it is not enough for the double world champion, who mainly sees the eight cars ahead of him at the finish line.
« While we have done everything possible, we cannot be happy with our level of performance. » Fernando Alonso urges his team to work day and night to make up for a lag he deems catchable. « We have the resources and the potential to do it, it only depends on us. » The Ferrari driver emphasizes the importance of the tests that will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday for the preparation of the upcoming races: « We have a very aggressive program, which is necessary since our rivals will not sit idly by. »
Kimi Räikkönen (No. 7) – 10th
After a race without the slightest point for the Finn, it’s just a single point that Kimi Räikkönen manages to bring back from the desert: “I’m really disappointed with today’s result, especially after the qualifying performance.” The “Iceman’s” race was compromised from the start, with a bad start that saw him lose a few places: “During the first lap, I was hit by Magnussen, luckily without damage.” But the rest of the race was very difficult for the 2007 world champion, given that “the lack of aerodynamic downforce and the lack of speed on the straights made it difficult to overtake.”
But these problems were known by the Scuderia before the weekend given the characteristics of the F14-T. However, not everything was negative for the Finn: « The traction of our car has generally improved compared to previous races, and this makes me confident for the future. » Kimi Räikkönen also emphasizes the importance of this week’s tests which will be used « to try to improve in time for the next race in China. »
