Source: McLaren Media Centre

F1 News

It's difficult to beat me according to Alonso

"It's difficult to beat me" according to Alonso

12-08-2018 19:13
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Bobby Vincent

Struggling McLaren driver Stoffel Vandoorne has been supported by his team-mate Fernando Alonso

Vandoorne is yet to out-qualify the Spaniard in twelve attempts this season and seventeen overall, stretching back to last season's Malaysian Grand Prix.

Alonso has defended the Belgian, though, as he looked back and reflected on a time where he beat his then Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen sixteen times out of nineteen during the 2014 campaign.

"I think it's difficult to beat me," Alonso told F1.com.

"He always has to be a little bit behind. But if you see previous team-mates, they were alot further behind than Stoffel. Like in 2014 or something like that, it was six or seven-tenths to Kimi every race. He's less than that now.

"I don't think his reputation is going down. The car is what it is. The car is underperforming. We as a team are trying to find the problem and to have both cars in the same conditions, with the same performance. He has shown his talent already. There's no need for proof."

Alonso is sure that Vandoorne will eventually perform well in the sport when he gets comfortable with his car.

"Being a champion in every series before Formula One, right now in a difficult car with some difficulties last year and this year as well," Alonso added.

"He's OK. He will be very close in performance as soon as the car is delivering the normal performance."