From GMM
Two-time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso has slammed the brakes on swinging speculation about the form of his formula one employer Renault.
Following a sluggish start to the 2009 pre-season and then an apparent burst of speed, the 2005 and 2006 world champion clarified that neither interpretation of the Renault R29 single seater is right.
"First we were really bad in Portimao and then we were the best in Jerez, but it is neither one or the other," he is quoted as saying from the final group test at Barcelona.
The Spaniard said that while he is happier with the Enstone based team's preparations this year compared to 2008, the R29 is not leading the field with two weeks to go to Melbourne.
"To be in the first six (in Australia) is almost an impossible task," Alonso, 27, said after the Brawn, Ferrari, BMW and Toyota cars led the pace on Wednesday.
"Some of those (lap) times are unattainable at the moment for us, with or without fuel. They are a step ahead of us," he admitted.
Alonso thinks Brawn GP has benefited from having switched its efforts to 2009 earlier than the rest.
"It's not normal that they are so quick in their first tests," he added. "The truth is that they have a car that Honda began working on in 2007 to use in 2009. And that's evident in its design, because it's a very elaborate car, with different shapes than the rest."
"But we are not so far away, some tenths, and if our rate of evolution is as good as it was last year, we can have good hopes."
photo:WRI2
Two-time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso has slammed the brakes on swinging speculation about the form of his formula one employer Renault.
Following a sluggish start to the 2009 pre-season and then an apparent burst of speed, the 2005 and 2006 world champion clarified that neither interpretation of the Renault R29 single seater is right.
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| Fernando Alonso, Renault R29 |
"First we were really bad in Portimao and then we were the best in Jerez, but it is neither one or the other," he is quoted as saying from the final group test at Barcelona.
The Spaniard said that while he is happier with the Enstone based team's preparations this year compared to 2008, the R29 is not leading the field with two weeks to go to Melbourne.
"To be in the first six (in Australia) is almost an impossible task," Alonso, 27, said after the Brawn, Ferrari, BMW and Toyota cars led the pace on Wednesday.
"Some of those (lap) times are unattainable at the moment for us, with or without fuel. They are a step ahead of us," he admitted.
Alonso thinks Brawn GP has benefited from having switched its efforts to 2009 earlier than the rest.
"It's not normal that they are so quick in their first tests," he added. "The truth is that they have a car that Honda began working on in 2007 to use in 2009. And that's evident in its design, because it's a very elaborate car, with different shapes than the rest."
"But we are not so far away, some tenths, and if our rate of evolution is as good as it was last year, we can have good hopes."
photo:WRI2