Alonso worried about Monaco qualifying

World championship leader Fernando Alonso has backed the claims of several drivers that he is 'worried' about the difficulties they will face at Monaco this weekend thanks to the knockout qualifying format

With former champion Jacques Villeneuve and Mark Webber having already expressed concerns about it, Alonso believes that things will be harder than usual for drivers in the shoot-out for grid positions at Monte Carlo - and believes there is a much higher risk of big names getting knocked out early on.

"I think everybody will be a little bit worried about qualifying," he said on Monday. "Already in Monaco, you normally have a lot of traffic in every session, and this year qualifying will be very tough.

"I think the first 15 minutes will be hardest because one yellow flag, or if the guy in front has problems, then you could be out. So we need to be careful, and for sure we will have a different strategy to make sure we get into the top ten."

The fears about qualifying are further heightened by the fact that getting a good grid position is vital if drivers are going to have a chance of going for the win. It means that there is a likelihood that more risks will be taken, despite the tight confines of the circuit.

"For sure, we set-up the car for qualifying, and work all weekend to get that perfect lap. If you are on the front row, then if you finish the race, it is almost 100% certain you will be on the podium. If you are not in the top five in qualifying, then you can forget the podium.

"So qualifying is where you need to take a lot of risks, but necessary risks. It is the key to the race."

Despite his fears about qualifying, Alonso is confident that the R26 will be good enough to allow him to continue his strong start to the season - but is mindful that a single mistake at any point of the weekend could wreck his chances of a win.

"I think the car will be quick there," he explained. "You need good traction at this circuit, and that has been a strong point for the R26 all the way through the season so far. Michelin did a fantastic job in Spain, and they have always been very strong in Monaco, so they should be there as well.

"This has been a good Renault track in the past but more than ever, we will need a perfect, mistake-free weekend to fight for the win. That will be what we are focusing on."