Fernando Alonso says it isn’t instantly apparent why Alpine loved their best weekend of the season to date in Portugal.
The 2-times world champion completed eighth, one place behind group mate Esteban Ocon, in yesterday’s race. It was the very best results of the season for each drivers to date this yr, however Alonso admitted the group “don’t know but” why they have been so fast from the primary session on the observe on Friday.
“Usually it was a great weekend, not solely the race,” he stated. “I felt the automotive [was] rather more aggressive right here than Imola and Bahrain.
“We have been preventing with one McLaren, with one Ferrari, AlphaTauri. So undoubtedly we have been in a bunch that we weren’t capable of be in Imola or Bahrain. In order that was a constructive factor.
“We felt aggressive already from FP1, we have been fifth in FP2, we may have been third in FP3. So it stays somewhat bit a thriller what occurred in qualifying the place I felt not snug, I felt not the identical grip as another session, sadly. And that compromised somewhat bit my race.
“However general I’m very pleased with the weekend generally and the step ahead by the efficiency of the automotive. I feel it was a great Sunday for us as Alpine being aggressive greater than another race to date this yr.”
The numerous situations and observe layouts the groups have encountered to date this yr make it laborious to type an correct view of how fast everyone seems to be, says Alonso.
“We’re nonetheless discovering issues on the automotive each weekend. We went into a really completely different circuit traits to date this yr. Very completely different situations as properly from the warmth of Bahrain and the gradual pace corners with a mixture of lengthy straights to the damp Imola and now the windy Portimao.
“So I feel we’ve to continue to learn from the automotive and from our opponents as properly, the place they’re a robust, the place they’re weak. And that can take extra time, I feel, for everyone.”
Alonso admitted he had “plenty of enjoyable” and “good battles” as he labored his method ahead from 13th on the grid. “Within the first two races we have been battling extra in the direction of the tip of the midfield group, we had some battles with the Williams, with Alfa Romeo and the Ferrari, the McLaren, AlphaTauri, they have been unreachable in Bahrain and right here they have been slower than us mainly on the weekend. In order that was good.
“Three races into the season, one retirement in Bahrain sadly, and two instances within the factors, so I can’t ask something extra. I’ve been studying and adapting to the group as fast as I can and nonetheless extra to come back. From three races, two instances into factors and one retirement, I feel it’s a great begin. However we have to get higher.”