Alonso Reacts to Monaco Podium

With a third place finish in Monaco, Fernando Alonso now is leading the Formula 1 Drivers' Championship by three points ahead of the tied Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber. His podium finish also allowed FerrariFerrariItaly, 1947 > present233 models
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to tie with LotusLotusUnited Kingdom, 1952 > present68 models
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for third place in the constructors' championship. 

The team is especially happy with the result. They see it as a fresh start for Felipe Massa who finished 6th. The team admits that despite the good result, the race was fraught with questions. It did not know how long the tires would last, and rain threatened for nearly the entire race. The team is still working on the car's development because it is not where it needs to be to compete easily with the top teams. 

Alonso appears thrilled with leading the championship about a third of the way through the season.

"If I’d been offered that after the Mugello test at the beginning of the month, I’d have signed for it there and then, but if I’d been told that after Melbourne, I would never have believed it! In Australia we started twelfth, then in the last two races we have jumped onto the podium and we are first in the classification," said Alonso. 

Alonso admitted that he also made contact with Grosjean during the incident at the start of the race, but he was lucky. The damage caused to the car was likely part of the reason Schumacher was unable to finish the race. But there was no damage to Alonso's car, and he was able to carry on. 

"On this track overtaking is almost impossible and being in someone’s slipstream causes temperature problems, both for the engine and the tires. So, you cannot always be on the attack of those ahead, trying instead to manage the situation and push flat out only at the moments that count," said Alonso.

Alonso also admitted that Vettel was faster than him at the end of the race, but Monaco is an easy track to defend; so Alonso was able to remain in third. 

"Let’s see what the situation is in Canada, but certainly we hope to be able to confirm at this track too the progress we have seen at the last two Grands Prix," said Alonso.