The Spanish driver Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) assured this Friday during the course of the third and final day of Formula One testing prior to the start of the season that after the first days, there are “nineteen drivers in the paddock who will now think that they will not win the title.”
“For now, we simply have to look at them – Red Bull – and see how they perform,” Alonso told reporters before the third day of free practice, in which he finished eighth, eight tenths behind Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), who He surpassed the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), who later acknowledged that the day’s plan was not to focus on the fastest laps, but to continue understanding the car.
Alonso stressed that the car concept that Red Bull has presented with its new RB “has been a surprise” and highlighted that the Dutchman is the current world champion and Red Bull “is dominating” this sport, so “there are fewer options that no one wins a race this year.
“But that’s the way things are,” said the two-time world champion, who added that he doesn’t have “a crystal ball to know what others are doing,” although he did emphasize that at Aston Martin they have tried to combat some of the problems they had. last year, such as top speed or performance in high-speed corners: “It’s a step forward compared to last year’s car, but I think everyone has taken a big step.”
Likewise, asked if there will be a podium option in the first weekend of Formula One, which will be held next week at the Sakhir circuit (Bahrain), the same one where they have raced during the three days of testing, Alonso He stated that it does not seem “realistic right now” to him, although he cannot know exactly.
Finally, the Asturian stressed that with the test times and what they know about the other cars “it is not enough” to know what their position on the grid is right now, but he concluded that we have to be positive because the car is better than last year, “and that is a fact, although the others have taken a big step in winter, especially in the middle zone, where there is a very high level.” EFE
#Alonso #level #Red #Bull #drivers #win #World #Cup
