Alonso says Pirelli transition 'smooth'

The Spaniard completed 105 laps of the Yas Marina circuit, and does not expect Ferrari to have to make major changes to its new car to suit the tyre characteristics.

"Overall, I am quite happy with the behaviour of the tyres," he said. "They are not too different to the previous manufacturer [Bridgestone] so in a way I think it will be a very smooth transition with no big drama."

The two-time world champion added that he did not find it difficult to tweak the car's set-up to get the best out of the Pirellis, declaring himself happy with progress.

"For us, it was not a big change," he said. "There were a few set-up changes to the car to accommodate the tyres and try to understand the two types of tyres that Pirelli brought here. It was okay."