Alonso was given the task of helping Vandoorne

  • Published on 29 Sep 2018 17:36
  • comments 0
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Fernando Alonso says that his main job during qualifying was to help Stoffel Vandoorne get as far up the grid as possible for Sunday's Russian Grand Prix.

Alonso sacrificed his session as he will take an engine penalty for the race and start no lower than sixteenth on the grid. The Spaniard set a lap time to get himself within the 107% qualifying time that would ensure he would be able to start the race.

He then turned his attention to giving teammate Stoffel Vandoorne a tow down the long start/finish straight in order to boost the Belgian's chances of progressing out of Q1. However, Vandoorne failed to do so and even ended the session slower than Alonso.

“I had two missions,” Alonso explained. “One to set a lap inside 107% and the second mission was to help Stoffel with the tow in the straight. I think we did both and obviously a lot of the focus has been on the race pace this weekend. Hopefully tomorrow we see some nice results on the chequered flag.”

Vandoorne is yet to out-qualify Alonso this season, and last got the better of his teammate 12 months ago at Malaysia. The 26-year-old will be leaving McLaren at the end of the year after a season of disappointing results, which looks set to continue in Sochi.

“It was always going to be hard for us this weekend,” said Vandoorne. “I think this morning we saw that the pace of the car was not very good at all. Going into the qualifying session the target was to try and be ahead of the Williams'. We managed to beat one today [but] I don’t know exactly what happens with all the penalties.”

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 23:25

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 23:25

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 564
  • Podiums 9
  • Grand Prix 165
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (43)
  • Place of b. Oviedo, ES
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar