The "stupid" Monaco move Alfa Romeo opted not to gamble on

Ewan Gale
Wednesday 26 May 2021 12:36

Alfa Romeo team principal Fred Vasseur believes his team would have "been stupid" to jeopardise its first points of the F1 season to try and achieve a better result.

Antonio Giovinazzi finished 10th at the Monaco Grand Prix to end his run of bad luck and give the team breathing space for eighth in the championship ahead of Williams.

Vasseur suggested an even better result was achievable but the team would have been foolish to have attempted to pull a trick out of the bag to try and pass Esteban Ocon for ninth.

"Before the pit stop, we were P9 or something and we were in front of Esteban but [Fernando] Alonso behind was a bit faster which meant if we would have extended for one lap we would have been behind Alonso and it was done for us," explained Vasseur.

"We had to pit but when we came back on track, after two laps we caught [Daniel] Ricciardo and we opened the door for Ocon to do something because he was not scared of Alonso.

"Then it is what it is. I think we were much much faster than Ocon for the last 25 laps but there is absolutely no chance to try something. It would have been stupid."

Raikkonen pace a pointer for Alfa Romeo

Vasseur was also pleased with how 11th-placed Kimi Raikkonen performed after failing to make Q3 and starting 14th, pointing out his pace towards the end of the race as an encouraging sign of momentum building for the team.

Asked if there were any major dramas during the race, Vasseur added: "No, it was crystal clear from the pit wall.

"Kimi behind did a very strong race also. The last third of the race, he was posting the same lap time as the top five but it is like it is.

"We have to build up something from this weekend to prepare for the next one but it is good motivation for the team."