Alonso would be happy with Schumacher win
Renault's championship leader Fernando Alonso isn't counting on his chances of victory at the Hungaroring but he would be happy if Michael Schumacher took the win. Alonso went wide on the last corner of his qualifying lap which left him sixth on the ...
Renault's championship leader Fernando Alonso isn't counting on his chances of victory at the Hungaroring but he would be happy if Michael Schumacher took the win. Alonso went wide on the last corner of his qualifying lap which left him sixth on the grid, two slots behind McLaren rival Kimi Raikkonen. Schumacher took Ferrari's first pole of the season and Alonso hopes the German will aid Renault's title hopes.
"I think Michael has an opportunity here and if he wins I will be very happy," the Spaniard told reporters at the Hungaroring. "If Ferrari take 10 points away from the McLarens it is good for us."
As for Raikkonen, who will start from fourth, Alonso knows his best chance is to try and get past the Finn off the line. "Hopefully we can overtake him at the start," he said. "The grid is not easy for us because even if we have a different strategy than them maybe we cannot take the maximum from our car because there are people in front of us."
"I think I have to concentrate on Kimi. If I cannot overtake him at the start I need to be right behind him and not have people between us. The first two corners will be very important and we need to take risks. If we are sixth and we are conservative, it will not be a good result at all."
Alonso is well aware that McLaren has the faster car but even if Raikkonen closes the 36 point gap between them on Sunday, Fernando is not overly concerned. "The race is very long so first of all we have to finish and McLaren have to finish the race," he remarked.
"For sure they are more competitive than us this weekend. Kimi started first in qualifying and even with that he had a good lap. I am sure if both of us finish I will lose some points but I have a good gap so I am not too worried."
Raikkonen ran first in qualifying, which is always a disadvantage, but his time was still good enough for a second row start. He knows how fast the Renaults can be off the line and recognizes the threat of Alonso behind him. "It is very important for me to get a good start," said the Finn.
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