British GP qualifying: Alonso says Ferrari needs faster decisions

Fernando Alonso says his Ferrari Formula 1 team needs to improve its decision-making procedures in order to avoid situations like going out in Q1 during qualifying for the British Grand Prix

Both the Spaniard and team-mate Kimi Raikkonen failed to reach Q2 after going out on slicks just before the rain hit Silverstone in the dying moment of the first qualifying segment.

With the duo not having set a competitive enough time before the rain came, both were knocked out, with Alonso 19th and Raikkonen 20th. It was the first time Alonso missed Q2 since the 2010 Monaco Grand Prix.

The double world champion, who also suffered a spin on his flying lap, admitted Ferrari needs to work on speeding up its communication process having been in this situation before.

"We know there are two Williams and two Ferraris out of Q1, so there's definitely something wrong compared to the other teams because when both cars are out in a session like this it's because you were in the wrong moment with the wrong tyre," said Alonso.

"That's something we need to look at. It's true that it has happened some other times, and we were saved many times by luck.

"We need to do better next time. I think the bigger teams have longer procedures than smaller teams, so we need to speed up some of the communications and some of the things that we do."

While team-mate Raikkonen believed Ferrari was unlucky with the weather, claiming it did not risk anything by switching to slicks when it did, Alonso said the fault ultimately lay with the team.

"It's something we need to improve, but at the same time it's a very narrow line," he added.

"If the rain had come two minutes earlier these people would be in the wall now, and people would ask [them] 'why do you put dry tyres while the track is still wet?'"

"But I agree that there were some cars on dry tyres today a couple of minutes before us doing green sectors and we were in the garage. So we need to improve that for next time."

The Spaniard also conceded that he had banished thoughts of staying in the title fight this year.

"I think if anyone apart from Rosberg and Hamilton tells you that they believe they can be world champion this year they will lie," he said. "And I don't like to lie."