“I’m speechless” - Alonso rues run of bad luck in F1
The two-time F1 champion trailed home in 17th at the Australian Grand Prix but was on the wrong side of lady luck at Albert Park.
Alonso was on a storming qualifying lap on Saturday, on course to challenge Charles Leclerc for provisional pole position before spinning at Turn 11 as a result of a hydraulic issue.
The Spaniard was running inside the top 10 on the hard tyres but an untimely Safety Car ruined his strategy, dropping him well outside the points before being forced into a second stop due to tyre blistering.
- Verstappen calls on F1 to speed up “turtle” Aston Martin Safety Car
- Five winners and five losers from F1's Australian GP
- Why Hamilton backed off, ‘difficult’ radio message explained
- F1 driver ratings: Leclerc and Albon score 10/10
Alonso was also forced to retire from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix having been on course to finish sixth.
“Well, I think we’ve been extremely unlucky with the safety car, in lap 20 or 22. Safety Car came in and obviously we were looking for P6 and P7 which was a great comeback but with that safety car everyone regroups, and our race was gone,” Alonso explained.
“The second safety car or virtual safety car we pitted just to change tyres but obviously it was too early to finish the race on the yellows, and we gambled on that, but I think the killer was the first safety car, so it is a little bit… I’m speechless because I think we did a mega weekend in Saudi and here especially and we have zero points in the two races.”
Alonso quipped afterwards that he will be “super lucky” in the remaining races this year after his run of bad luck.
“Yeah, obviously that’s the problem that it is not guaranteed that we are fast on the weekends and when we are fast everything happens on our car or on our side so this crazy but with three rounds gone, super unlucky so I guess on the next 20 we will be super lucky so we will see,” he added.
Another points haul for Esteban Ocon
Esteban Ocon continued his 100 per cent record of scoring points with P7 at the Australian Grand Prix.
The Frenchman was never on teammate Alonso’s pace throughout the weekend, only managing eighth on the grid when the Spaniard was a top-five contender.
Ocon was stuck behind Alex Albon’s Williams as he was unable to challenge McLaren duo Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo, with the former nursing a loss of power in the closing stages of the race.
Reflecting on the race, Ocon said: “I’m not as pleased as I was in the last couple races. I think a lot more could have been possible this weekend. I think there was quite a big train of cars that we were stuck behind, there was more pace available for us and in the end it’s a shame because I think top five could have been possible.
“Difficult weekend but you know to finish P7 is still a very strong result and I think there is plenty of knowledge we can take onboard.”
Ocon was pleased that Alpine remained competitive at Albert Park, highlighting that it can be competitive at a variety of circuits.
“I think on that regard we seem to be competitive each weekend, we seem to be consistent so that’s good. Obviously, that’s what we want and to push the car on the limit each time and to try new things like we’ve done this weekend, you know sometimes you make a step back but at least you know, that’s what we’ve done.”
Alpine sits fifth in the constructors’ championship, two points behind McLaren.
