Alonso: McLaren lacking ambition

Alonso: McLaren lacking ambition

Originally written by Joas van Wingerden. This version is a translation.

Monday 1 October 2018 16:31

Fernando Alonso accused McLaren of "lacking ambition" after he was denied a chance to set the fastest lap of the Russian Grand Prix. The Spaniard finished 14th in Sochi, having battled Lance Stroll's Williams for the most part of the race.

Alonso was among a clutch of drivers to take engine penalties in the race, but he could not follow the lead of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo carving their way through the field as McLaren endured another frustrating outing.

Article continues under video

When given information on Stroll mid-race, Alonso replied over team radio: "Yes mate. We are 15th… I don't care."

And the 37-year-old – who will quit F1 at the end of the year – was similarly glum after the race, having only managed a fastest lap more than three and a half seconds slower than the quickest of the race, set by Valtteri Bottas.

Alonso said of targeting the award: "When you are P14/15 it is good for the team, good for the guys working flat out every day, good for the sponsors and partners.

"But we were lacking ambition I think today.''

He added: "It was quite a long race. We stopped on lap four or five to try to undercut some people. All of them had one set of yellow tyres, we had two.

"The yellow tyre for the whole race with no issues, and that did not come out as we expected. Overall we did not have the pace, as we said before the race.

"Nothing we can do now, so thinking of Japan and maybe we can score some points there.''

MORE: Liberty Media wants to change F1 qualifying
MORE: Red Bull chief brutally denies Vandoorne rumours