Alonso: People need to see McLaren back on top

Editor

Fastest in Q1 at Silverstone, Fernando Alonso concedes that it was good for the fans to see McLaren back at the top.

Alonso put in a late burst in Q1 for the British Grand Prix as he swapped his intermediate Pirellis for a set of slicks on the drying circuit.

The Spaniard went quickest of all in that session, earning a huge cheer from the crowd.

“I saw them on the in lap, the people on the grandstands [getting] excited,” he said.

“It was only Q1, on dry tyres, but people need to see McLaren back on the top some time.

“I’m happy for them, happy for the team as well, they do some extra work changing a little bit too many engines, but to see a McLaren top, even in Q1, is a nice thing.”

Alonso, though, will start Sunday’s British Grand Prix from the back of the grid as he has a 30-place grid penalty.

And with more rain forecast for Sunday, the McLaren driver is hoping for chaos.

He added: “If it’s changing conditions we can be competitive and a bit of chaos would help us.”