Alonso frustrated by McLaren's "primary school mistake"

Alonso was knocked out in Q2 at the Red Bull Ring after he was sent out with used tyres for his first run in the segment - unlike his rivals, who went out with new rubber.

The Spaniard wound up a provisional 14th on the grid as a result.

The McLaren driver said he was expecting to have new tyres on when he left the pits, and admitted he did not know why he got used tyres fitted.

"I don't think we had the pace to be in Q3, but we probably did something wrong," said Alonso.

"We had a rain prediction so we tried to go out early in Q2 with new tyres, the only new ones that I had left, but for some reason my car was not fitted with the new ones, it was the Q1 tyres.

"So I did a first try just for the sake of it, and then when I put the new tyres there was a yellow flag. The biggest mistake was not to put the new tyres like everybody else did.

"When they took off the warmers, we suddenly had used tyres on, which was a surprise, but there was no turning back."

He added: "It's frustrating. We are already not too quick. We are not in a very good position, and if on top of that we make those primary school mistakes, it's frustrating."

When asked about his chances for the race, the Spaniard said: "If we put on new tyres to start the race, it will go better. "

Alonso's teammate Jenson Button was fifth-quickest in Q3 and is currently set for third on the grid due to penalties for other drivers.