Breaking news

Formula 1 Canadian GP

Alonso says Friday "totally wasted" after engine problem

Fernando Alonso said his first day of Formula 1 practice at the Canadian Grand Prix was "totally wasted" after an engine problem seriously affected his running.

Glenn Freeman

Edited: Jun 9, 2017, 11:12 PM

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Fernando Alonso, McLaren stops on track in FP1

Fernando Alonso, McLaren MCL32

The car Fernando Alonso, McLaren MCL32 is recovered in FP1

Fernando Alonso, McLaren stops on track in FP1 and waves

Fernando Alonso, McLaren

Fernando Alonso, McLaren stops on track in FP1 and waves

Fernando Alonso, McLaren MCL32

The car Fernando Alonso, McLaren MCL32 is recovered in FP1

The two-time world champion, who returned to F1 action after skipping the Monaco Grand Prix to compete in the Indianapolis 500, had to stop his car on track in FP1 with a hydraulic problem, which then also cost him time at the start of FP2 as McLaren repaired the car.

While Alonso climbed to seventh as the chequered flag came out at the end of the day's running, he said the day was of little use because of how compromised his running was.

"I wanted to come to the pitlane to try and solve the problem, but yeah, it's an engine issue with a hydraulic problem," said Alonso after the second session, in which he completed 19 laps while several drivers managed more than 40.

"We lost FP1 [13 laps] and then most of FP2 because we didn't have enough time to repair the car.

"It's a totally wasted Friday and not an easy start.

"Nonetheless we know the circuit, we've raced here many years, so we should know how to attack qualifying and the race."

Alonso's late effort on ultrasoft tyres benefited from better track conditions than when the rest of the field set their qualifying simulation times earlier in FP2, and he said his position was probably not representative of where McLaren stands in the pecking order this weekend.

"We know our position is a little further down, probably 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th," he added.

"Sometimes we manage to put in some good laps like we did in Barcelona for P7 [in qualifying] and today P7.

"The most important thing is to be in the top 10 for points on Sunday. There are no points on Saturday, but a good qualifying shows the race performance.

"With the problems we had in FP1 and missing most of FP2 the car is not perfectly tuned, and even with that handicap we were in the top 10 so I'm definitely happy for that."

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Read also :

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Previous article Arrivabene "laughing" at Vettel favouritism claims

Next article Vettel: Losing time behind Hamilton "annoying"

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

More from

Glenn Freeman



F1 2019 game to allow official driver transfers

Esports

Esports

F1 2019 game to allow official driver transfers



Albon keeps Toro Rosso on top in morning of Day 4

Formula 1

Formula 1

Barcelona February testing

Albon keeps Toro Rosso on top in morning of Day 4



Raikkonen fastest for Alfa on third morning of F1 test

Formula 1

Formula 1

Barcelona February testing

Raikkonen fastest for Alfa on third morning of F1 test

More from

Valtteri Bottas



Colton Herta qualifies for F1 superlicence as Valtteri Bottas remains bullish on 2027 seat

Formula 1

Formula 1

Sao Paulo GP

19 h

Colton Herta qualifies for F1 superlicence as Valtteri Bottas remains bullish on 2027 seat



Cadillac to investigate high-speed Mexico GP failure that led to angry Valtteri Bottas reaction

Formula 1

Formula 1

Mexican GP

Cadillac to investigate high-speed Mexico GP failure that led to angry Valtteri Bottas reaction



You Ask The Questions: Valtteri Bottas

Formula 1

Canadian GP

You Ask The Questions: Valtteri Bottas

More from

Mercedes



Why Toto Wolff sees Ferrari clash as "déjà vu" – and why escalation may be necessary

Formula 1

Formula 1

Sao Paulo GP

15 h

Why Toto Wolff sees Ferrari clash as "déjà vu" – and why escalation may be necessary



"Exhausted" George Russell set for Brazilian F1 grid penalty

Formula 1

Formula 1

Sao Paulo GP

20 h

"Exhausted" George Russell set for Brazilian F1 grid penalty



A water park, “not a rock star” and Toto Wolff’s words – Is Kimi Antonelli really a different F1 champion?

Formula 1

A water park, “not a rock star” and Toto Wolff’s words – Is Kimi Antonelli really a different F1 champion?

Latest news



Toto Wolff defends MotoGP over Qatar: ‘The riders know nothing about what’s going on’

MotoGP

MGP MotoGP

Qatar GP

42 min

Toto Wolff defends MotoGP over Qatar: ‘The riders know nothing about what’s going on’



Ferrari slow on straights, struggling in corners: ‘One of the worst feelings’ for Charles Leclerc

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Sao Paulo GP

1 h

Ferrari slow on straights, struggling in corners: ‘One of the worst feelings’ for Charles Leclerc



Brodie Kostecki wins Sandown to advance to Supercars finale

Supercars

SUPC Supercars

Sandown 500

2 h

Brodie Kostecki wins Sandown to advance to Supercars finale



Racing Bulls promises "right decision" as Liam Lawson's F1 future remains in doubt

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Sao Paulo GP

3 h

Racing Bulls promises "right decision" as Liam Lawson's F1 future remains in doubt

Feature

Discover prime content



What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 Brazilian GP

Formula 1

Sao Paulo GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 Brazilian GP



How F1’s rules got to be so complex

Formula 1

By Pat Symonds

How F1’s rules got to be so complex



A water park, “not a rock star” and Toto Wolff’s words – Is Kimi Antonelli really a different F1 champion?

Formula 1

By Ronald Vording

A water park, “not a rock star” and Toto Wolff’s words – Is Kimi Antonelli really a different F1 champion?



Why Ferrari must act now after its own 'Papaya Rules' moment

Formula 1

Mexican GP

By Filip Cleeren

Why Ferrari must act now after its own 'Papaya Rules' moment

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts

Subscribe