Alonso: R24 not as competitive as people say!

By role
March 22 2004

Spanish Driver Fernando Alonso was sattisfied to have finished in the points after making a mistake on Saturday's qualifying. However, he believes the team will have to fight stronger in order to be able to challenge for wins.

In a post race interview for his hometown newspaper "La Nueva España" the driver from Oviedo is clear that Renault is not as competitive as people argue:

"Every weekend we learn something. Even from what has happened (the mistakes by Alonso and by the team). I think the first thing that this weekend has been good for, is to learn that we do not have such a competitive car as people argue. We have a car that runs well, reliable, and we are, together with Ferrari, the only team that has finished both races with the two cars, but we still are a bit behind to fight with the Williams and the McLarens. BAR is also quite strong and Jaguar usually goes fast on the qualy. That is, there re teams to fight against and we should not fell sleep". Said the Spaniard.

Alonso also talks about his chances for Bahrein:

"I have faith in the car because it is reliable and that gives me good feelings since Bahrein is a track nobody knows. I think we can finish the race and do it again in the ponts; maybe in the top 5, or why not in the podium? Every race is different but with this car I feel we can score points in all tracks, something last season we could not do" He concluded.