Fernando Alonso, Alpine, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, 2022

Alonso plans to attack Verstappen at start from surprise second on grid

2022 Canadian Grand Prix

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Fernando Alonso vowed to take the fight to pole winner Max Verstappen in tomorrow’s Canadian Grand Prix after qualifying alongside him on the front row of the grid.

The Alpine driver pinched second on the grid off Carlos Sainz Jnr by a tenth of a second with his final lap in a damp qualifying session as the track dried.

“It feels great,” said the two-times world champion after achieving his best starting position for 10 years.

“It was an unbelievable weekend so far for us. We were competitive in free practice, which normally we are on Friday, but then on Saturday we seem to lose a little bit of pace.

“But thanks to the wet conditions today the car was mega, I was so comfortable with driving this car and I think the fans also pushed me to make an extra push.”

Sergio Perez, Red Bull, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, 2022
Gallery: 2022 Canadian Grand Prix qualifying day in pictures
Alonso will share the front row of the grid with Verstappen and have the inside line for turn one. “I think we’ll attack Max on the first corner,” he said.

Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer said the team ensured both Alonso and Esteban Ocon enjoyed the driest possible track at the end of the session to maximise their chances.

“We waited quite a long time in the pit stop,” he told Sky. “We had both of them, we stacked them, so we planned to get both of them across the line as late as possible.”

Ocon took seventh on the grid.

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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6 comments on “Alonso plans to attack Verstappen at start from surprise second on grid”

  1. I wonder if that’s a warning to Max and RB about going into the first corner. Back off or else!

    1. petebaldwin (@)
      18th June 2022, 23:12

      He said it whilst looking at Max and smiling… I think he’ll take the start how he usually does but he’s not going to take any major risks considering Max will have more than enough in the dry to pass him back fairly quickly.

    2. Just what I thought, setting a psychological marker down.
      I’d love to see Alonso in a competitive car fighting Max for the championship.

  2. So good to see Alonso in P2. He has lost absolutely nothing these days and could win championships with a winning car. What a story that would be if he got his much deserved third title..!? F1 and Drive to Survive would have a field day.

    1. It’s just incredible that such a driver hasn’t managed to be in a competitive car again, but also true that since 2010 there’s pretty much always been a clear best car to be in: first red bull, then mercedes with the occasional ferrari chance, and as those cars already had a number 1 they weren’t interested in indoor competition, however ferrari should’ve definitely gone for alonso in those years, I believe he would’ve taken the 2018 title.

  3. Sergey Martyn
    19th June 2022, 9:40

    Hope to see Nando on podium tomorrow!

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