Optimistic, Alonso isn’t expecting a miracle in Barcelona

Before the Mugello tests, Fernando Alonso, reflecting on his mixed start to the season, compared himself to Rocky Balboa, always in a fight. Asked by the *Stampa* about his impressions behind the wheel of a car unanimously deemed a failure, the Spaniard admits feeling like he’s walking a tightrope thirty meters above the ground: If you take the turn’s line wrong, you won’t make it past Q1, if you miss a braking point, you won’t make it into the top 10. Over the past two seasons, I’ve learned to walk on a wire: pit stops are perfect, strategy is always right. One fundamental thing is missing: the fastest car. [But] with a team like Ferrari, a good car is enough. […] I can tell an engineer where we are losing ground and where we are stronger, if there are traction and top speed problems, like on the F2012. I don’t design the car, but when I park in Parc Fermé, I get a close look at the other cars: it’s a great help, I see that aerodynamics is the most important factor.

At Mugello, the objective was to improve the car, particularly from an aerodynamic point of view, and after generally satisfactory tests, Fernando Alonso is relatively optimistic: « The feelings I have after the tests are positive. We have introduced some small aerodynamic updates, and I emphasize small, which have produced the results we hoped for, and this is very positive news, which makes me confident for the future, both in the short and long term. This means that what we saw at the Maranello factory has been confirmed on the track. Additionally, we worked in other areas, particularly the tires, conducting both short and long stints, as well as settings and starts, given that we also tested a new clutch. »

The double world champion from Spain is, however, waiting for Barcelona to form a definitive opinion on the solutions Ferrari has brought to the problems encountered since the start of the season with its F2012: « I can’t say if today we have made up part of our delay, but in Barcelona we will have more significant evolutions and we hope that there, we can start closing the gap that currently separates us from the teams at the top. We have decided to prioritize wind tunnel development rather than bringing all the new elements to these tests. Of course, it would have been nice to evaluate these innovations on track beforehand, but it is equally pleasant to be able to rely on the full development potential for each part. »

Among these new features announced for Barcelona, *Auto Motor und Sport* reveals that the F2012 sported, on Thursday, a rear wing that could soon accommodate the ingenious Double-DRS system initiated by Mercedes on its W03: « The wing has only minor changes. You have to look closely. […] This wing will make its debut with a new diffuser and a new nose in Barcelona » as can be read in the columns of the German publication.

The Bull of Asturias does not expect to see a miracle in Barcelona but hopes that the Spanish Grand Prix will be the first step in Rossa’s recovery: « Barcelona will be a key moment of the season, but not decisive. It’s not like we’re going to find ourselves in pole position, because there’s no magic button. We must start by no longer struggling to get into Q3 and getting closer to the Top 6, then we will continue development in the following races, making another step forward in Monaco, Canada, and then Valencia. It’s the only way we can consider recovering those 7 or 9 tenths that separate us from the leaders. However, I won’t deny that next weekend is important: we cannot afford to struggle to enter Q3 if we want to fight for the title. »

Fernando Alonso is currently 5th in the 2012 F1 Championship drivers’ standings, tied on points with Jenson Button.