Fernando Alonso underplays importance of exhaust layout changes in Mugello – Formula 1 news
Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso has under played the importance of team’s changes to the exhaust layout of F2012 during the three-day in-season test held at Mugello circuit this week.
The Scarlet team introduced the first step of their major upgrade package in the test. Alonso drove the car on the last day of the test with an altered exhaust layout in the car. Moreover, many other contenders also came up with modified exhaust designs.
However, the Spaniard expressed that in this season, the exhausts cannot be considered as the most crucial area as there have been four different winners in the first four races who ran on completely different cars’ setups.
“There's no difference in terms of driving compared to the one I tried on Tuesday,” he said. “The exhausts are not the critical area this year, which can be seen from the fact that so far, cars with different configurations have won and, in Bahrain for example,
the Red Bull won with the downward facing exhausts, but the quickest car on track was the Lotus, which has straight ones.”
He also said that they have worked on the issue of tyre management during the test.
“Furthermore, we have worked on other areas, especially the tyres, doing short and long runs, on set-up and also on starts, given we were also trying out a new clutch,” said Alonso.
The Italian team struggled with their car throughout the pre-season testing programme this year. Besides, they expressed that they will face difficulties in the first few races of the season. Nonetheless, Alonso secured an impressive fifth place finish in
the season opener held at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia.
Subsequently, he took an incredible victory in the second race at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia in rainy conditions. Conversely, he could only secure 9th and 7th place finish in the third and fourth race.
He is currently standing at fifth place in the drivers’ championship with 43 points ahead of the German driver, Nico Rosberg of Mercedes. Over and above, he said that he is looking forward to perform well in the season ahead in order to fight for the championship
title.
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