Q & A with Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso: It was a difficult day because the wind made it quite difficult to set up the car. Every run was a little bit different compared to the run before, but we still keep improving the car every run and doing some set up work. We tried to understand the two types of tyres, and we had quite a clear answer on that.

At the end some useful information that we will put everything together tonight and choose the best things for tomorrow morning at the start of P3.

Q. Are you any closer to working out where Renault rank in the order?

FA: I think it is still too early. In P1 we looked a little bit better than P2, but we were a little bit far behind. So we are still not really convinced where we are in terms of performance compared to others.

Also, we maybe have to improve our one lap performance. It is not the best at the moment. We are quite happy with the long run performance, improving the lap time at the end of the runs and things like that, but to get the maximum of the first timed lap.

We are still not convinced that we arrive at our maximum potential, so that will be quite difficult for tomorrow qualifying. We need to work in P3 over this one lap performance and try and get the maximum for it.

Q. A lot of drivers were losing control of their cars on the entry to corners. Was it down to the lack of engine braking systems or more down to the conditions?

FA: Both, I think. It was very windy and some two or three corners had a tailwind on entry. So when you brake, there is no downforce at all and you lose the car. So I imagine that even with last year's electronics we keep losing the car sometimes, but for sure this year some of the mistakes we saw today were coming from the new regulations.

We need to pay more attention to braking, especially with old tyres you lock the rear very easily, and that is something we need to work on as well. In the winter it was a little bit easier, with cold tracks and not too much wind. Here it has become a little bit more difficult today.

Q. Is there one car that is especially more difficult than the others?

FA: No, I think every team and every driver will have problems in different corners. For me, turn nine was for me the most difficult one with tail winds and very bumpy braking. So, it is very easy to lock the rear tyres.

Q. Does it feel good to be back at Renault?

FA: Yes! I am happy to be here. There is a good atmosphere in the team. We would like to repeat the success we had in the past. At the moment we are not quite there, but we have confidence in ourselves and there is work to do. But I think we can do it.

Q. You are used to winning. How psychologically difficult is it to accept that you have to wait?

FA: Yes. It is not difficult. You set your own targets, I know for this weekend it is not a win and not a podium, but we will try to get into Q3 tomorrow. We will try to get points Sunday afternoon.

In Malaysia we will see how the track suits our car. Every race will be a new challenge and a new target, and developing the car will come every race. We will see how close we will be from the top teams in a couple of race's time.