Alonso sets lofty Alpine target

Fernando Alonso has set a lofty target for this weekend's Styrian Grand Prix after he and Alpine team-mate Esteban Ocon ended Friday practice in the top five.

While the team has only failed to score points at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix this year, conversely, in only two of the seven races have both cars scored top-10 finishes, most recently in Portugal at the beginning of May.

After Alonso set the fifth-fastest time of Friday practice at the Red Bull Ring, while Ocon was an impressive third, the two-time F1 champion now has a double-points finish in his sights.

“Maybe, as we have seen other times, that Friday we look a little bit more competitive to what we look on Saturday and Sunday," said Alonso.

"But the aim is to be in Q3 with both cars and to be in the points on Sunday with both cars. It seems achievable here so let’s try to do it.”

Alpine fine-tuning required

With Red Bull only registering both cars in the top nine and Mercedes top 12, Alpine was the best performing team on Friday around the high-speed circuit.

“It was a good Friday for us," added Alonso. "We were expecting rain but it didn’t happen so we were able to test our normal programme. Happy with the tyres, happy with the car, the balance.

"We still have to finetune some corners to optimise the lap time but I think it was a positive Friday and I’m confident for tomorrow.”

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