Alonso sees extra challenge: 'Requires high level of concentration'

Fernando Alonso cannot wait to test Alpine's latest update package, after the Italian Grand Prix ended in disappointment for the Spaniard. In Singapore, the team is putting in a new floor, with which it expects to take a big step in terms of downforce.

Alonso saw his race in Monza end early due to a technical problem, but afterwards indicated that Alpine was not fast enough to get a good result that weekend anyway. The driver hopes his team has now figured out what that was due to and also has high hopes for the update package Alpine has brought along.

"We have shown that when we have a clean weekend, we are the best of the rest," Alonso is quoted by Soymotor.com. "We had a setback in Italy, but we know that consistency and teamwork will be crucial to secure fourth place in the championship."

The two-time world champion believes the battle with McLaren will last until the end of the season, but hopes Alpine can kick off the final phase of the Formula One championship strongly in Singapore. Alonso describes the race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit as "one of the toughest races of the year" and he thinks driving the new generation of F1 cars will make the challenge even greater.

"The track is long and requires high levels of concentration during the lap. It's been a few years and it's good to be racing there again. It will be interesting to see how this year's cars compare with previous generations," Alonso concluded.