Alonso rules out fighting for win
Fernando Alonso says he is not thinking of victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix despite securing pole position on Saturday
The Renault driver gave his team its first pole since the 2006 season in a session marked by Felipe Massa's accident and by the confusion caused by the timing failing at the end of it.
But despite emerging on top, Alonso admitted Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber are favourites for tomorrow.
The Spaniard also hinted at having opted for a low-fuel run in Q3.
"This is a special circuit for me I had my first win here in 2003, so I will always be happy when I drive in Budapest and it will be interesting tomorrow," said Alonso.
"We made a step forward and the car did improve in the last 2two races. We are more competitive, maybe not as quick as these two guys. We hope to score some good points tomorrow.
He added: "We will try (to win) but being honest and realistic, our target is to get some good points. After the last four races where we only scored points in the Nurburgring we need some points for the constructors', and we know if we start very heavy we go around 8th/9th position.
"We are aggressive this time, we did what we wanted for pole, from now on we will push for the race. We need to go for it."
The two-time champion said he has been encouraged by Renault's progress in the last races, and he is optimistic of a strong second half of the season.
"It seems that in the last two or three races the new stuff we put in the car is working really well," he said. "I am confident we found a good direction to go in terms of improving the car and this is the first good result of the championship so far.
"So hopefully the second half of the season will be more in this room, but hopefully we can fight for Q3 and be in top five a little bit more often."
McLaren: No shortcut for Piastri in understanding F1 tyre deg challenge
McLaren: No shortcut for Piastri in understanding F1 tyre deg challenge McLaren: No shortcut for Piastri in understanding F1 tyre deg challenge
McLaren forging closer ties with Toyota as F1 rumours swirl
McLaren forging closer ties with Toyota as F1 rumours swirl McLaren forging closer ties with Toyota as F1 rumours swirl
The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold
The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold
Alonso explains “throwing me to the lions” radio rant in F1 Japanese GP
Alonso explains “throwing me to the lions” radio rant in F1 Japanese GP Alonso explains “throwing me to the lions” radio rant in F1 Japanese GP
The Alonso/Schumacher F1 traits McLaren sees in Piastri
The Alonso/Schumacher F1 traits McLaren sees in Piastri The Alonso/Schumacher F1 traits McLaren sees in Piastri
The extreme dedication enabling F1’s elder statesmen to prolong elite status
The extreme dedication enabling F1’s elder statesmen to prolong elite status The extreme dedication enabling F1’s elder statesmen to prolong elite status
M-Sport: Tanak's WRC Rally Chile lead down to “hard work not luck”
M-Sport: Tanak's WRC Rally Chile lead down to “hard work not luck” M-Sport: Tanak's WRC Rally Chile lead down to “hard work not luck”
WRC Chile: Tanak ends Saturday comfortably on top
WRC Chile: Tanak ends Saturday comfortably on top WRC Chile: Tanak ends Saturday comfortably on top
Evans explains Toyota's WRC Rally Chile tyre strategy mistake
Evans explains Toyota's WRC Rally Chile tyre strategy mistake Evans explains Toyota's WRC Rally Chile tyre strategy mistake
WRC Chile: Tanak in control as Toyota tyre call backfires
WRC Chile: Tanak in control as Toyota tyre call backfires WRC Chile: Tanak in control as Toyota tyre call backfires
Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers
Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers
When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle
When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle
The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold
The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold
The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose
The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose
How football has posed difficult questions for F1
How football has posed difficult questions for F1 How football has posed difficult questions for F1
The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1
The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1 The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip
How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.