Alonso planning to take risks in race

The Renault driver, winner in Monte Carlo in 2006 and 2007, struggled for grip during today's qualifying but still managed a good result.

Alonso got a stroke of luck in the dying moments of qualifying, when an accident by David Coulthard made it impossible for the Spaniard's rivals to try to improve.

"In Monaco qualifying is more important than anywhere else and our goal today was to make it through to Q3," he said.

"It is very difficult to overtake, but I think it is quite an open race and as we are not fighting for the championship we can approach this race aggressively and take a few risks.

"It will be a competitive race, that is for sure, but we just have to wait and see what the weather does."

Alonso's teammate Nelsinho Piquet continued with his poor start to the season, failing to make it to Q2 for the second race in a row.

"I am very disappointed," he said. "I had a small problem with the brakes in Q1 and I was not on the pace. The car was very sensitive, but we saw with Fernando that it improved gradually throughout the session, which is all the more frustrating for me.

"A race from the back of the grid is always difficult, especially in Monaco, but I will give my maximum tomorrow, although my only real chance is to hope for rain, which will mix things up."