Alonso: “I prefer to start sixth”
Reached the maximum number of authorized power unit elements, Red Bull decided to have Sebastian Vettel start from the pits. At Ferrari, this solution was also considered before being rejected, as revealed by Fernando Alonso.
With the end of the season approaching, power unit element issues are becoming increasingly pressing for teams that must consider taking a penalty for using a sixth element. This is notably the case for Sebastian Vettel, who will start from the pit lane at the United States Grand Prix.
Fernando Alonso says that at Ferrari as well, they considered starting from the pits. But, after internal discussion, it was decided to use old components to avoid the penalty.
« We lost two or three tenths on the engine because we were limited at this level after the Monza breakdown. » he explains to Autosport. « In fact, last week we discussed the possibility of using a sixth engine here like Red Bull, or using a very old engine with a little less power but at least we wouldn’t have to recover positions. We chose the second solution. So we are probably lacking a bit of performance here and there. »
However, this decision raises the issue of whether Ferrari could continue until the end of the season without taking a penalty. Alonso emphasizes that the Scuderia’s priority is the finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where points will be doubled.
« We are doing all this to avoid using a sixth element. If we can manage here and in Brazil, then we don’t have to take a penalty in Abu Dhabi because of the double points. We still have a better engine available. We must put the best in Abu Dhabi. So we will manage these races. I think it will be fine. We probably lost today because of the power, but I am still in my usual sixth position. I would rather start sixth, with two or three-tenths less, than start at the back. »
