Alonso looking for positives
FIVE years have passed since Fernando Alonso won a grand prix, the last of his 32 wins in a career that has defied recent bad results to place him in the front rank of all the men who have driven in Formula One. Aged 36, he is still held in awe by his peers and would be a contender on a list of the 10 best in history. Lofty claims, indeed, and only subjective, of course, but he has been screwing every last fraction of a second out of his McLaren for four seasons, a trick he will need to repeat again to gain a creditable result from his home race here tomorrow. McLaren have brought a major upgrade to Barcelona and on the success of that may hang the job of one of Alonso’s bosses, racing director Eric Boullier. Wheels are turning. McLaren have brought in Brazilian Gil de Ferran to help with driver coaching. De Ferran coached Alonso ahead of his Indy debut last season. They got on well. When second practice was over yesterday, McLaren were a second-and-a-half adrift of championship leader Lewis Hamilton, in first place for a strong-looking Mercedes team. Boullier should be worried if the gap is similar in qualifying today. ‘Spain brings a lot of updates for all of the teams,’ said Alonso. ‘There is still a long way to go, but we were here last year with zero points. I am sixth in the world championship and we are fourth in the constructors’, so it has been a very good start . . . in a way. Let’s keep up the momentum. ‘I have kept my motivation because I’m a competitive man, I love to win,’ added Alonso, torturing himself. Spanish GP: Qualifying Sky Sports F1 2pm today. Race 2.05pm tomorrow.