Alonso happy he wasn’t involved at 2020 Turkish Grand Prix
Alpine driver Fernando Alonso during practice at Istanbul Park. Turkey October 2021
Racing at the circuit for the first time since 2011, Fernando Alonso says Istanbul Park feels the same as it did back then.
The sport returned to the track last season and it was hugely different to how it had been last time F1 raced there.
Due to the fact that it was resurfaced shortly before the race weekend, there was next to no grip for any of the drivers, causing them all the struggle hugely.
There have been so such issues this year though, as was reflected in the Friday lap times, with the fastest of FP2 being five seconds quicker than it was in 2020.
Indeed, Alonso says it doesn’t feel any different than it used to and is glad he wasn’t on the grid for last year’s edition.
“Yeah, I think it was as I remember,” he said after FP2.
“I’m happy I was not here last year because apparently it was very different and the lap times are very different as well but yeah today was a much more normal feeling.”
FP2 🏁
P7 // Fernando 1:24.660
P8 // Esteban 1:24.672
45 laps done across both cars. Good session!#TurkishGP pic.twitter.com/Ve8rAFdh6N— Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) October 8, 2021
Check out all the latest Fernando Alonso merchandise on the official Formula 1 store
It was a good first day of running for the Alpine driver with him finishing in P9 and P7 in the morning and afternoon sessions respectively.
The Spaniard says the goal is to make it to Q3 in qualifying, but is wary of the threat of rain, and feels how the team handles the weather will be the key factor rather than any setup changes.
“Well I think there is always something to come and to find overnight,” he added.
“But I think it’s going to be more dependant on the weather and trying to adapt quickly to whatever conditions we find tomorrow.
“Q3 is still the target, the top 10, but let’s see tomorrow.”
The first day wasn’t quite as smooth for Alonso’s team-mate, Esteban Ocon, as while the Frenchman finished the sessions in P6 and P8, he suffered a gearbox problem at the end of FP2.
Even so, he’s feeling positive heading into qualifying.
“I think there is good performance to come from us tomorrow,” he said.
“We look competitive, both cars, and that’s good news.”
Is the pressure off at Alpine?
Alpine seem to have P5 secured in the Constructors' Championship.
