Fernando Alonso expects a mixed grid at 2012 Australian Grand Prix – Formula 1 news
Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso expects a mixed grid at the season opener of the forthcoming 2012 Formula 1 season starting off at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia on March 18, 2012 because he believes that many contenders have made good efforts during
this year’s pre-season.
“Tomorrow I expect to see a very mixed up grid because there are so many teams that have done a good job over the winter,” he said.
Ferrari refused to make any kind of predictions regarding the first race before the qualifying on Saturday except it would be close, while Alonso said that they were making improvements for the upcoming season.
Moreover, no conclusive evidence can be drawn from both the practice sessions on Friday as the conditions on the track were mixed due to the rain meanwhile the cars ran on dry tyres.
The Spaniard expressed that he was confident for the first race regardless of the possibilities of the new car F2012. He also said that they were trying their best to make the essential improvements and the substantial preparations for the first GP.
“We will try and do our best, putting together the best elements we have tried in the past weeks, including a few details we brought here. However, my opinion has not changed: we wait for tomorrow to see where we are compared to the others. But if I was
to give some sort of opinion on the day, I would say it's been positive. We did the important things, the balance is good and the car responds well to changes,” he said.
Regardless of the pressure on the Scarlet team after it had faced issues during all the three pre-season tests held at the Jerez and Barcelona circuits, Alonso felt positive and said that the car was in good shape.
Besides, he said that there was a lot work left to do before the qualifying. Nevertheless, he thought that other rivals were at the same position too.
It would be interesting to mention that Pedro de la Rosa of HRT had expressed that Ferrari would surely have made development for the first race after the last test.
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