The McLaren single-seater performed very well in Abu Dhabi
While Saturday was marked by a wild rumor of a sabbatical leave for Fernando Alonso next season, the Spaniard was unfortunate with a puncture on his last lap of Q1. He will start only 17th, whereas Jenson Button managed to achieve the 12th fastest time of the session.
Shortly before the qualifying sessions, many media outlets reported on a possible sabbatical for Fernando Alonso in 2016 if his car did not improve. A disguised denial came at the end of qualifying when he stated: *Our car performed better than we expected. It was cruel to have a puncture at the most crucial moment of the weekend, the last lap in Q1. It was unlucky because we looked competitive and our car performed well here.*
Puncture at the wrong time …! Very pleased with the progress of the car this weekend !! The direction is correct..👌🏻👌🏻
— Fernando Alonso (@alo_oficial) 28 Novembre 2015
His teammate, Jenson Button, was on the same wavelength: “We changed the settings last night and everything worked very well. In fact, the car has been at its best since the start of the year, which is very promising at the end of a long season.”
Jenson Button has therefore managed to use this unusual potential since the start of the season to reach Q2. The world champion even believes there was room to make it to Q3: “My lap in Q1 was good. It was good in Q2 as well, but I think the others nailed their laps and that placed us in 12th position. It’s disappointing to finish outside the top 10, especially since we felt we had a chance to reach Q3 for the first time this year.”
From our special correspondent in Abu Dhabi
