Monaco GP: Alonso and THE race of the season…

Fernando Alonso arrives in Monaco with great ambitions. After reaching Q3 in qualifying, the maximum number of points must be brought home. The Spaniard will no doubt use his home Grand Prix in Barcelona two weeks ago to approach this race in the best possible way.

He will have certainly gained a lot of confidence with 4 points collected during the first European race. His past victories, totaling two, will also be an asset for what he considers THE race to win; so will it be third time’s the charm?

Fernando, you finished 5th in Barcelona for your home Grand Prix. Did you enjoy the race?

« Yes, racing in my national Grand Prix is always very motivating, and even though we weren’t able to fight for the podium, we got the most out of the car. So I am satisfied with my final position. I was lucky at the end of the race when Felipe Massa slowed down and, of course, gaining an extra point on the last lap was very satisfying. We still need to take a step forward to reach the front of the pack, but we are making progress with every race, and we scored important points in Barcelona. »

You have won the Monaco Grand Prix twice. Racing in the Principality must be a bit special for you?

This is one of my favorite races and I have very fond memories of Monaco, where I won in 2006 and 2007. It is truly THE race that all drivers want to add to their record. On Thursday, during free practice, the first lap is always a very strong sensation: you have to adapt quickly and get used to driving through the narrow streets of the Principality. You are very close to the rails and walls. On Sunday, overtaking is very difficult, and mentally, the race is a real challenge. You have to be constantly focused. But, above all, Monaco is a show for fans and spectators who can really get close to the cars.

How are you approaching this weekend?

« The most important thing is to achieve good qualifications and be as high as possible on the starting grid. For that, we will need a clear track. Each team will have specific technical solutions for Monaco because the layout is truly atypical. The car setup will be unusual to adapt to the numerous bumps and tight turns. As for the result, I think we can enter Q3 for the qualification, and our goal is to score points again. »

According to a statement from the Renault F1 Team