Ferrari: Alonso would be lying if he aimed for a podium finish at the Spanish Grand Prix

After a successful Chinese weekend, during which Fernando Alonso managed to secure his first podium of the season and Ferrari’s first of the season, the Spaniard arrives home with caution.

Thus, questioned in a press conference, the double World Champion stated that he did not want to give his team and numerous supporters false hope of a potential podium: « We cannot start the weekend thinking we will be on the podium or thinking about winning the race. That would create bad and false objectives for everyone who will come here. »

The Chinese Grand Prix was a special case, which may not be repeated this weekend: « We finished 9th and 10th in Bahrain, and we made it to the podium in China because we got everything right that Sunday. So, just because we are in position now doesn’t mean we will be fighting for the podium here. »

« We will do our best. We know that the weekend will be challenging and you never know, it’s sports, anything can happen, but today, sitting here, if I told you that I would fight for the podium, I would probably be lying and I don’t want to do that, for all the people who are coming, » he admits.

With Mercedes largely leading the constructors’ standings (154 points) and Red Bull appearing to be in good form – and arriving at a circuit seemingly favorable to their RB10 – Ferrari seems slightly behind: « We must do everything to bridge this gap and become competitive. It won’t happen from one race to the next. It will be gradual, and I hope we don’t become competitive too late in terms of points to fight for the Championship. So, let’s take it race by race. »

Precisely, the Circuit de Catalunya will be a good indication of the performance of the Ferrari F14-T: « Barcelona is a good benchmark to gauge how competitive we are, a circuit with different characteristics once again and a circuit that will provide us with answers or certain parameters where we will need to find answers. »

The Asturian continued: « Then there is Monaco, Canada, completely different circuits. We are at a moment in the Championship where we need to ask ourselves many, many things regarding our level of competitiveness. »

Mercedes indicated that Ferrari was their biggest threat for the title. What does Fernando Alonso think? « If they are counting on us for the Championship fight, it is good news because they respect us. But we need to prove things if we want to become a threat. »

Currently, Fernando Alonso is 3rd in the drivers’ championship with 41 points, compared to 79 for the leader Nico Rosberg and 75 for Lewis Hamilton. Ferrari is in 4th position in the constructors’ standings, with 52 points, which is 102 less than Mercedes.