Q & A with Fernando Alonso

Q: Fernando, how was the race for you?

Fernando Alonso: "Pretty good. My only chance was to make up a lot of positions in the first corner, and I took some big risks on the first lap.

"That paid off and I was running third straight away. After that, we fine-tuned our strategy so we could get past Button and finish second."

Q: Mark Webber was very close to you early on. Were you worried?

Alonso: "Not really. He was quick but we knew he was lighter than me. If he had tried to pass, I wouldn't have blocked him because I had too much to lose. Plus, our strategy meant we would have got back ahead later."

Q: Looking back at the race, do you think you could have done any better?

Alonso: "No. Today was about damage limitation, and it is a better result than I expected. I have scored 18 points in two races, which is a fantastic start to the season.

"Without the problem yesterday in qualifying, I could have fought for pole and had a very different race. I am aiming to win in Melbourne to have the best possible ending to the flyaway races.

"The car was perfect in these first two races, and I think we will be very quick everywhere. I can't wait for the next races!