Alonso parries criticism: 'Should they go out minute earlier'

Fernando Alonso's Alpine went like a rocket on the straights. Nevertheless, the Spaniard could only be found in tenth place. Considering the potential and the strong performance during Friday's free practice, that seems a setback.

Still, Alonso believes that Alpine's potential was ultimately maximized. More was simply not possible today, and his team came two or three tenths short of being the first challenger to Ferrari and Red Bull Racing. All in all, Alonso was therefore moderately satisfied.

"I have mixed feelings," he said afterwards to Soyo Engine. "Yesterday we were quite fast and from today we expected something more. But on Saturday we put a little bit on the competition. We didn't have those few tenths to make the difference. "

Alonso was annoyed by Alex Albon. He complained over the radio that Alonso drove too slowly during Q1. By doing so he would have ruined Albon's lap. The Spaniard parried the criticism: "If they go out a minute earlier, they drive in front of me. Q1 was chaos. I had used tires, maybe he was faster. And I made a mistake in Turn 15."