After returning from the summer break with great feelings at the last Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix 2022, the Spanish driver ended Friday’s day in Zandvoort with positive news, as he openly acknowledged to the press.
However, he did not manage to transfer those feelings to the classification of the Grand Prix of the Netherlands, since he did not even manage to reach the last and definitive Q3. In this way, Fernando Alonso will start 13th, just behind his teammate, Esteban Ocon, with both Alpines out of the points at least during the first stages of the race.
The Asturian driver set a best time of 1:11.613 in Q2, far from the 1:10.342 that gave Max Verstappen pole position on his home weekend, something that reflects Alpine’s pace difference compared to the past Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, where at times they fought for the podium against the Mercedes.
As soon as he got out of his car, Alonso spoke about the qualifying session and was sad for not having reached the final Q3, although he explained that one of the main causes that prevented him from improving his last time was the traffic, and in particular when Sergio Pérez, who got in his way at the end of Q2.
“The car this weekend has been very fast, I think that on the last lap it was half a second faster until turn 9, when we ran into Red Bull [of Checo Pérez] and well, in the end it was a shame not to be able to to get to Q3 and take advantage of those benefits that the car had”.
“Zandvoort is a very small circuit, very narrow, we knew that qualifying was going to be very difficult and we had to endure some traffic,” he said with a disappointed face.
The Spanish rider is already thinking about tomorrow’s race, Sunday, and, although he is confident of a comeback that will take him back to the points, he acknowledged that on a circuit like the Dutch one and starting from behind it will be difficult to gain positions if something out of the ordinary does not happen. usual.
“The start will be crucial and the first lap also to try to recover positions, and then to see the strategy, if we can have some clean air, but hey, it is a circuit in which the timing matters a lot and it is difficult to overtake, it will cost work tomorrow”, concluded the Spaniard.
Fernando Alonso at the wheel of the Alpine A522 in Zandvoort qualifying
