Fernando Alonso demands “sharp and flexible” approach to get sprint success

Alonso, Alpine, Austria — Photo: © LAT Images

British Grand Prix

Alonso demands “sharp and flexible” approach to get sprint success

Alpine driver looking to balance risk and reward in new F1 format

Ian Parkes & Will Gray

Friday 16 July 2021 10:30

Fernando Alonso has called for his Alpine team to operate a “sharp and flexible” strategy in preparing for F1’s first sprint race at Silverstone this weekend.

The Saturday event, which will take the form of a mini-race to decide the grid for Sunday’s British Grand Prix, has shaken up the weekend format, with just a single, hour-long practice session before qualifying for the sprint.

Given the teams have little preparation time, Alonso said: “We are curious to see how the weekend unfolds. The new format will bring some new implications in how you prepare for the weekend.

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“There is only one practice before qualifying so I don’t know if everything will be optimised. It’s the same for everybody, but we need to be sharp and flexible.

"There is not a clear target of strategy at the moment, we will go step by step, day by day. Let’s see which position we are in for the sprint race and then make decisions from there.”

Alonso not ready to take risks

The new format has not only left teams with a challenge in preparation but it has also created some difficult decisions as pushing too hard in the sprint to gain grid places for Sunday’s race could risk a total knock-out.

Alonso added: “In a way, with the sprint qualifying, there is high risk because any problem you may have, or any contact or whatever, will have an implication for Sunday’s race if you start at the very back.

“It is a risk? Yes. Do we need to take every opportunity? Yes, but at the same time, with a bigger margin maybe than the proper race on Sunday because it is just a preparation.

“Here overtaking is not going to be easy, so whatever position you get on Friday likely you will end up on Saturday and likely you will start on Sunday, so I don’t think we will have a big variation.”