‘First-timer’ Alonso targeting top-10 finish in comeback race

Fernando Alonso has targeted a top-10 finish in Bahrain on Sunday but admitted he feels like he is doing things for the first time all over again as he makes his F1 return with Alpine this season.

The two-time world champion, who has missed the last two seasons, qualified ninth for his comeback race to set up a chance to cap off an impressive return by scoring his first F1 points since the Singapore Grand Prix in September 2018.

Alonso conceded he “didn’t expect” to have such a successful qualifying session and said: “The weekend has been difficult. I lacked confidence in the back of the car and the braking performance was very different than the test.

“I think the wind direction changed, the temperatures cooled so I felt it would be a good help for my driving style so I came with some confidence in qualifying but in a way it is better than expected. I am happy with ninth.”

Alonso kept himself race fresh during his time out of F1 by competing in the World Endurance Championship and events including the Le Mans 24 hours and the Indy 500.

The 39-year-old has revealed that not only do those events require different demands to F1 but also the sport has changed enough since his last race with McLaren that he is having to re-learn things every day.

“Like today, [the race] is going to be again many first-time things,” he said. “First time again on a start, first time on a first corner trying to be away from problems, and then the pit stops, a two-second pit stop is going to feel very new.

“In qualifying, when you put this kind of tyre with this big performance in the first lap, low fuel, the adrenaline and fun to drive is amazing. In the race, you have to pace yourself for the tyre management.

“There are many things I need to go through for the first time tomorrow, so I am looking forward to it. I will be happy if we score points, so the top 10 is the target.”

Alonso finished 1.252s behind pole-sitter Max Verstappen but is conscious he made it into the top 10 because several drivers tried to get through to the final session on medium tyres but failed.

Drivers such as Red Bull's Sergio Perez and Yuki Tsunoda in the AlphaTauri will be looking to get past the former champion.

But a determined Alonso added: “I’m aware there are some guys behind with more pace than we have, but if we do a good start, good strategy, everything is possible.”

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