Fernando Alonso demonstrated remarkable resilience during the wet qualifying session at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Beginning on Friday night, the Spaniard finished in an impressive seventh place, defying the treacherous conditions that slowed many competitors.
Alonso’s Optimistic Outlook
After the session, Alonso revealed his surprise at how enjoyable the experience turned out to be. “More fun than what I thought,” he stated. Initially, he anticipated a challenging session due to the limited grip on the track, even with dry tires.
Positive Performance in Difficult Conditions
- Alonso noted the absence of major incidents, which he had expected.
- He expressed satisfaction with how the car handled, saying it performed better than he had hoped.
Despite many drivers calling the Strip nearly undriveable, Alonso felt he had faced worse conditions in other locations. “I was expecting that level of difficulty, but as I said, maybe it was not that difficult,” he remarked, comparing Las Vegas to tracks in Austria and Brazil where waterlogged conditions posed greater challenges.
Strategic Team Approach
Both Alonso and his teammate, Lance Stroll, seized the opportunity to challenge the leaders early in the session. Alonso humorously pointed out their team’s advantage in the opening lap, highlighting a strategic edge over rivals who played it safe initially.
- Alonso’s comments underscored a confident tactic during the qualifying rounds.
- The team’s effective tire strategy contributed significantly to their performance.
Final Thoughts on the Qualifying Session
After completing the session, Alonso expressed pride in both his results and his team’s efforts. He acknowledged that achieving a seventh-place start was unexpected just hours before the qualifying round began. Alonso concluded, “Today, I’m extremely happy and proud of the team as well, and we take this P7.”
