Q & A with Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso: I'm happy, I think. Sixth was the maximum for us today. Q1 and Q2 with everybody in the same conditions we were P9 so maybe P6 is good for us. The two Ferraris and the two McLarens are a little bit too quick and also Toyota has been better than us, so I think sixth is a fair position.

Q. How bad has the tyre graining been here? Do you expect it to be a big problem tomorrow?

FA: With the soft tyres I don't know because I only did one timed lap and it's okay for one timed lap. I imagine that tomorrow we'll have the same problems as yesterday so it's a concern for everybody, the soft tyres. I guess all the teams will try to do the minimum amount of laps possible with the soft tyres and we'll see how it plays the strategy for all of us.

Q. How are you going to approach battling with Lewis Hamilton for position tomorrow, knowing that he is fighting for the championship?

FA: I think we need to have a good start, first of all. We know that we start worse than McLaren. We saw two weeks ago in China. I was fourth, Kovalainen was fifth and he overtook me in 100 meters. Because we start worse than McLaren it will be difficult to gain any positions. It will be more of a defending start for me, from Vettel and from the guys behind me.

Q. What do you think about Lewis' situation, not starting from the front of the grid?

FA: I don't think fourth is a bad position. It's not the middle of the pack. He has one Toyota in front, which is many lighter than him and maybe it not a worry. He has the two Ferraris, which is more or less normal and the fifth guy is his teammate, so I don't think it's a big problem.

As far as you need to finish in the top five.. I cannot say it's very easy, but it's not too difficult to finish in the top five. I don't think he needs to worry now. We'll see how the race develops. I think Massa wanted to be on pole and Lewis more or less has what he wanted. With his teammate alongside and in the top four.

Q. How does the paranoia of someone making a silly move and taking you out affect you in the build-up to a big title-deciding race like this?

FA: Depends on your character and how you are. For me, two years ago it was not a big problem. I arrived with one championship already in the pocket so there was less pressure. When it's your first championship maybe it's a little bit more tense. But you try to do your race and hope it's okay.

Q. What do you think it's a realistic goal for you for tomorrow?

FA: I don't know. Top five, maybe, top six. I'm starting sixth, but I don't see many possibilities to be in front of McLaren and Ferrari, so maybe our target is Trulli, but he is P2 so he's way ahead of us. From P6 it will be difficult to beat him. So maybe top five or top six is our realistic target. But in the races anything can happen. As I said, the tyres are a concern and rain is a possibility. so if you make good decisions and good tyre calls maybe you can get a podium. We will not give up now.

Q. Do you think people have opted for very different strategies, maybe even three stops?

FA: I don't think so. Two stops will be the choice for everyone, to be honest. I don't see many possibilities in the strategy. Maybe we will stop earlier than in previous year. The rumours we have is that everybody is going shorter than last year, for example.