Fernando Alonso Q & A

The ING Renault F1 Team looks forward to round fourteen of the season, the Singapore Grand Prix. Fernando Alonso: “I believe we can be competitive in Singapore”

Fernando, you had a strong weekend in Monza. Talk us through your race?
Considering that I started eighth on the grid, I was happy to finish fifth, which was better than we predicted before the race. We used KERS all weekend, but I couldn’t make the most of it at the start so we lost some of the advantage going into the first corner. For the rest of the race the car had a good balance and my one-stop strategy worked well so we could score some important points.

The next race is in Singapore - what do you think of the track?
I like it because it’s quite challenging and there are some interesting corners like the high-speed chicane at turn 10 where you have to carry a lot of speed and use the curbs. Overtaking isn’t easy in Singapore, but there are some opportunities.

How will the R29 perform this weekend?
The car is working well at most circuits so I believe we are competitive enough to get close to the podium, which has to be my target this weekend.

And how are you preparing for the unusual timetable?
Last year I decided it was better to remain on a European schedule rather than adjusting to local time so I will do the same this year as it’s the best way to manage my energy levels.