Alonso: “We’ve done some great work”

Feb.27 (YF1) In the end there were over 21,000 spectators in Barcelona to cheer on Fernando Alonso on his last day of testing. The Spanish fans’ enthusiasm was further augmneted by their idol’s good performance in a race simulation and setting the second fastest lap time of the day.

Alonso completed 133 laps before he had to stop on the track due to one a small problems, which normally happen during these winter tests. His fastest lap he drove in the morning in a time of 1.20.637, while the German Williams driver Nico Hulkenberg was 23 thousandth of a second faster in the afternoon, when there was less wind and the track in better conditions.

“We set up the programme for these winter tests in January and we brought them to an end,” Fernando said at the end of the day. “In all it was seven days and I really do have a good impression. I’m calm for the first races, because I know that we’ve done some great work. I think there are still some unknown factors, because the tests were limited: we’ll see what will happen in Bahrain. The key will be how the tyres will be used in the races.”

Fernando doesn’t hide the responsibility of driving for a team of Ferrari’s stature: “At the start of every season my goal is to win the title. I know that the expectations are really high, because I’m part of a team used to fight for the World Title and there are so many fans who want the same. I can’t wait to start the Championship in Bahrain, on a circuit different as usual with a particular atmosphere; the track will be modified after turn 4, which makes it more interesting.”

The Spanish driver, who was carrying out a race simulation on his final day in Barcelona, said he was satisfied by the F10′s behaviour under different conditions that the test sessions delivered. “Maybe the afternoon was a little quicker so I’ve got a better feeling, but I think that the situation won’t be that different in the end. It’s always difficult to judge the others’ times: today’s classification doesn’t mean anything. It’s important to be on top of the classification after the last race.”