Fernando Alonso feels a podium finish was possible before a power unit issue wrecked his Canadian Grand Prix.
The double world champion managed his first front row in a decade in qualifying, but crossed the finish line only P7 and has subsequently dropped to P9 following a five-second post-race penalty for weaving.
Early on, Alonso slipped back after being the only lead driver not to pit under one of the Virtual Safety Car periods. But later explained that poor timing was the only reason for doing so.
“We were unlucky with the VSC, we decided to box just when it ended so then we decide to stay out,” he said.
“10 seconds more, and it would have been enough. Those behind us got lucky once more, and they overtook us with that VSC.”
?That was the #CanadianGP ? Not the result we hoped for but double points in the bag! A mega drive from Esteban and Fernando ?? that was a team effort!
P6 Esteban
P7 Fernando#CanadianGP pic.twitter.com/VeZhTCVrhU— BWT Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) June 19, 2022
It was then Alonso also confirmed he was lacking a significant amount of ERS power down the straights for much of the race.
“The biggest problem was in Lap 20, I had an engine problem with the battery system,” he said.
“I was clipping in the middle of the straights. I was losing about eight tenths per lap and I had to overdrive the car off the corners.
“Very positive that the car was very fast, and without the engine problem, we were P3 in front of Lewis [Hamilton] in that moment of the race.
“We were managing the gap to Carlos [Sainz] and [Max] Verstappen. So, without the engine problem P3 or P4 was still possible even with the SC.”
Poor luck and unreliability and blighted Alonso’s season so far, and the Spaniard admits it is something Alpine must improve.
“I’m here trying to be better than sixth and seventh,” he claimed via RaceFans. “And I think this weekend we were better than sixth and seventh.
“So if we didn’t finish in the podium or P4, it’s because we had a reliability issue on Car 14 and unlucky maybe with the Virtual Safety Car.
“Luck you cannot control but reliability on Car 14 should be better.”
