Fernando Alonso saw how in Mexico his car failed him again again this season. There are already many breakdowns that the Spaniard has suffered and that have meant that he cannot score points in many races. The most curious thing is that problems always happen in car number 14.
Alpine boss Otmar Szafnaueracknowledges being disappointed that one of his cars was unable to finish: “This race was going to be a challenge due to the unique conditions in Mexico City and we leave disappointed for the fact that only one car saw the checkered flag.
“We know that reliability is going to be the key in our battle for the championship and it is something that has let us down after showing such a strong level of performance in recent races,” he adds.
“Unfortunately, Fernando suffered a cylinder failure on lap 52 and had to make do with five, which means a significant lack of power,” he says.
The Oviedo I was going to be seventh in their struggle not only to try to overtake Stephen Ocon in the World Cup, but to score points and make Alpine stay ahead of McLaren in the constructors’ world championship.
“I think it’s luck”
szafnauer He attributes the fact that his car always breaks down to luck. Alonso: “It was an engine problem, and we don’t have a team of people preparing Esteban’s engine or Fernando’s, they mix. The probability of this happening is not zero, it can happen, but it is less than it always happens in a side or the other. I think it’s luck“.
He also understands the impotence and frustration of the Asturian: “It’s not like we can find a reason. Not that we can see that it is this set of circumstances that is always on Fernando’s side. You always feel frustrated when you control a race.”
“There is no risk and you know the points are in the bag because nobody is pressuring you. That makes it even more frustrating. I get it“, Add.
“It can’t be bad luck”
For its part, Alonso dismisses Szafnauer’s opinion that it is luck that makes his engine stop: “I think we are not ready. The engine cannot finish the races. It can’t be bad luck when you have to change six or seven motors like we did and we still haven’t finished the races”.
After seventh and ninth place in the McLaren and eighth place Or with with the abandonment of Alonso, Alpine they are just seven points ahead of Woking, with two races remaining in the season.
