Alpine "cannot relax" in battle with AlphaTauri despite Qatar F1 podium - Alonso

Two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso says Alpine "cannot relax" in its battle with AlphaTauri despite moving 25 points clear in the race for fifth in the constructors’ championship in Qatar.

Connor McDonagh

25 Nov 2021

Third placed Fernando Alonso (ESP) Alpine F1 Team A521 in parc ferme.
© FIA Pool Image for Editorial Use

Alpine enjoyed its second-highest points haul of the season in Qatar as Alonso returned to the podium for the first time since 2014 with third, while teammate Esteban Ocon finished fifth.

With both AlphaTauri’s failing to score at the Losail International Circuit, Alpine has a comfortable gap in the constructors’ championship going into the final two rounds in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi.

Speaking after the race in Qatar, Alonso said: “We didn’t expect this [margin],” Alonso said. “We honestly were thinking of very little points between us here, Saudi and Abu Dhabi but obviously this 25 points and margin makes things a little bit easier for us. But we cannot relax.

“Anything can happen on the next two events, and we need to keep the focus high and hopefully deliver more points for the championship.”

Alpine’s return to form came after a difficult run of races in the Americas.

The Spaniard is confident Alpine can maintain its Qatar level of performance in the final two races in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi.

“I think it’s going to depend on the track layout and the characteristics of the track,” Alonso explained. “Saudi, what we see on the videos, it could match our package; Abu Dhabi maybe a little bit less, even though the new corners may change a little bit what we feel there.

“I don’t know, I feel positive. I feel that what I saw this weekend on the car made me quite optimistic for the next two.”