McLaren: Double points finish for Alonso and Vandoorne
For the first time this season, both McLaren drivers finish in the points. Fernando Alonso comes in a strong 6th place and his teammate, Stoffel Vandoorne scores his first point of the season.
On a track tailored for them and less demanding in terms of engine performance, the McLarens did not disappoint. Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne had marked this race on the calendar to, surely, deliver their best performances of the season.
Throughout the weekend in the Top 10, Alonso hoped for only one thing: that his mechanics would hold up. Which they did, allowing him to finish the Hungarian Grand Prix in 6th place, his second-best result since his return to McLaren in 2015: « We were probably aiming for seventh or eighth position today, but with Ricciardo out of the race, sixth place became possible, and we seized that opportunity. We worked well for this result all weekend, with no mistakes during good practice sessions, qualifying, and then a perfectly executed race. »
The best lap in the race even came to complete this great weekend: « Additionally, the fastest lap at the end of the race was a surprise, like a gift, and we gladly accept it, » the amused Spaniard noted.
A great battle with his compatriot Carlos Sainz at the wheel of his Toro Rosso also came to liven up his afternoon: « The battle with Carlos was very tight. We were together at the start, at the restart after the safety car, we went into the sands together, we came out together, and I knew I had two laps where I could really push and take advantage of the fresh tires. I tried to do it with sometimes a bit kamikaze attacks because after those first two laps, I knew it would be impossible. It went well. » describes Alonso.
Something to go on vacation on a good note, as he proved at the foot of the podium by delighting photographers with his self-mockery, lying on a deck chair, mirroring the fresco painted on the ground: « It was really a good race, we will go on vacation with a smile! »
Fastest lap ✅
Best finish of the season ✅
Birthday weekend ✅Time for @alo_oficial to relax #HungarianGP 🇭🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/hpa8SakPS0
— Formula 1 (@F1) 30 juillet 2017
His teammate Stoffel Vandoorne was also smiling after scoring his first point of the year: « It was quite a positive weekend for me. We came here hoping to be competitive and we were able to fight in the Top 10 throughout the weekend. »
A welcome reward for the Belgian who had narrowly missed the points at Silverstone: « When an opportunity like this arises, we must seize it with open arms. My race pace was encouraging and we were definitely faster than the Force India, but overtaking is very difficult. In the end, we scored points, so it’s a good weekend for the team. » concluded Vandoorne.
