Ferrari boss praises Spaniard's strong showing in Abu Dhabi
Last Updated: November 14, 2011 11:07am
Alonso: Ferrari went better than expected in Abu Dhabi
Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali hailed Fernando Alonso's performance as "extraordinary" after he finished second behind Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi.
Twelve months ago, the Spaniard's hopes of winning a third world title were extinguished at the Yas Marina Circuit but it was a happier Alonso who stood alongside Hamilton on the podium this time having chased his former McLaren team-mate throughout.
Starting fifth on the grid, Alonso made up three places on the opening lap, passing both Mark Webber and Jenson Button as well as profiting from Sebastian Vettel's early retirement.
He then sat in Hamilton's shadow and although he admitted that the win was probably beyond Ferrari, Alonso nevertheless said his car's performance was better than expected.
His hopes of finishing second in the drivers' championship behind Vettel also received a boost: with just the Brazilian Grand Prix to come, Alonso stands third overall 10 points behind Button and 12 clear of Webber.
"We got a good start and could match Hamilton's pace," Alonso said. "The first pit stop went well, while I lost a couple of seconds at the second one, what with traffic on my in-lap and a problem changing the front left wheel, but I don't think that's where we lost the race, because I am convinced that, in the end, it's the quickest car that wins and so it was.
Exciting
"The opening lap was exciting: at the start I squeezed round the outside of Webber at the first corner because I knew there was more grip there then, once I saw Vettel was off, I got into Button's slipstream, taking a bit of a risk but, in the end, I managed to pass him too.
"After that I expected to struggle more, but today was one of those where the car went much better than expected and you are kept busier fighting with those ahead of you than in looking in your mirrors.
"I hoped right to the end I could do it, because maybe Hamilton might also have had some problems with KERS like Button did."
Domenicali added: "We knew a podium was possible and that was confirmed this evening when, thanks to yet another extraordinary drive from Fernando, we were in the fight for the win right up until the final part of the race."
Meanwhile, team-mate Felipe Massa lost fourth place to Webber after a late spin on the prime (harder compound) tyres that had just been fitted.
"I cannot be happy with this fifth place," the Brazilian said. "Things were going reasonably well while I was on the softs, but with the mediums I was really struggling to keep the car on track because of the lack of grip.
"That's why I ended up spinning on lap 49, losing any remaining hope of staying ahead of Webber."
Credit: Sky Sports (www.skysports.com)
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