Fernando Alonso: “The car seems to be performing quite well at this challenging track” – The Checkered Flag

Fernando Alonso loved a ‘respectable’ couple of observe classes on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Friday, with the Spaniard ending inside the highest 5 in each.

The BWT Alpine F1 Staff driver was third quickest within the first session because the FIA Components 1 World Championship made its return to Canada for the primary time since 2019, and he adopted that up by setting the fifth quickest time within the second session.

Alonso says the present technology of Components 1 automobiles make the observe in Montréal a a lot completely different problem in comparison with what it was, however it was good for him to get as a lot observe operating as he might to organize for the remainder of the weekend.

“I feel it was one other respectable Friday for us at the moment,” mentioned Alonso.  “The automobile appears to be performing fairly effectively at this difficult observe right here in Montreal. 

“We haven’t raced in Canada for numerous years and it does really feel a bit completely different than in earlier years. Issues like using the kerbs offers a really completely different feeling with the bottom impact automobiles.

“Total, it was a great expertise at the moment. It seems to be prefer it may very well be a blended climate forecast tomorrow, so we tried to get as a lot knowledge as we might in preparation for the race.” 

“Hopefully we are able to benefit from the alternatives” – Esteban Ocon

Staff-mate Esteban Ocon additionally really feel like Alpine have a aggressive automobile in Canada, even when a part of his first session was affected by a braking situation brought on by an errant plastic bag.

The Frenchman, who has not raced on the venue since 2018, was compelled to pit early in first observe as a result of situation, and though he was capable of resume his operating not too lengthy later, he was unable to raised fifteenth.

Ocon had a greater second session and positioned inside the highest ten, and regardless of his missed operating early on, he felt it was a productive day for the workforce, and he hopes to benefit from the automobile in Saturday’s Qualifying session.

“It feels good to be again in Montreal and drive right here after 4 years away for me,” mentioned Ocon.  “Right this moment was all about getting again to grips with the observe and understanding it.

“It’s vital to tune the automobile and optimise it as finest as we are able to for a observe like this and I feel we used each classes effectively for that at the moment. We had been a bit unfortunate early in FP1 with the plastic bag getting caught in my entrance proper brake and shedding time, however it was a productive day nonetheless.

“We missed the rain by minutes at the moment however seems to be like it is going to be moist tomorrow and we would see a little bit of a shuffle within the order of automobiles, which might make it attention-grabbing.

“From the seems to be of it, we now have a aggressive automobile, so hopefully we are able to benefit from the alternatives.”