Alonso: Risk taken during Q3 laps was at an ‘uncomfortable level’.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso says he went beyond the limit during qualifying as he secured a spot on the front row of the grid for the Monaco Grand Prix.
18:23 Sat, 27 May 2023.
by Rob Kershaw
Motorsport Week

The Spaniard looked set for his first pole position since Germany 2012 in the dying moments of Q3 on Saturday, before a rapid final sector from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen gave the Dutchman his first-ever pole in the Principality.

Fernando Alonso: “We came here with some concerns about our performance on Saturdays, we seem very god on Sundays and taking care of the tyres, degradation is good on our car. But we struggle a bit on street circuits to put the temperature to hit the lap in Q3 but we are starting the first row of the grid in Monaco so I think it’s job done today.”

Alonso drew attention the time he lost to Verstappen in the final sector, adding that this has been the team’s most problematic area over the weekend. “I don’t think so,” he said when asked if he tried a different approach in qualifying. “I think both laps in Q3 we were increasing the level of risk to an uncomfortable level let’s say I think both laps were a little bit over the limit sometimes but everything went fine.

‘EL PLAN: Beyond the limit during qualifying’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...ortable-level/


Why Fernando Alonso took ‘uncomfortable level of risk’ in Monaco pole quest
27 May 2023 6:44 PM
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

Fernando Alonso was going all out in his search for pole position in Monaco on Saturday, and admitted he was taking “uncomfortable” risks as he tried to secure P1 on the grid. The Aston Martin driver had earmarked Monaco as a potential venue where he might have a chance of victory this season, and had sat top of Q3 heading into the dying moments of the session.

The search goes on for Alonso for his first pole position since the 2012 German Grand Prix, but having come onto team radio and said he was “driving like an animal”, it certainly was not through lack of effort on his part. So much so, that he was even pushing the boundaries to the edge of what he was comfortable with on Saturday.

‘EL PLAN: “Driving like an animal”!’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/fernan...e-monaco-risk/


Alonso took ‘uncomfortable’ risks in Monaco Qualifying
Sunday 28th May, 2023 - 4:48am
By Mat Coch
Speedcafe

Fernando Alonso suggests competition for pole position during Qualifying for the F1 Monaco Grand Prix saw things reach an “uncomfortable level.” Alonso will line up second for tomorrow’s race after missing out on pole by just over a tenth of a second to Max Verstappen.

“When they told me that we were P1 just sooner than Max completed the laps, I knew the possibility was there to be P2,” Alonso said. “It’s a long race; I don’t think that overtaking opportunities will come at all as it is Monaco,” he said.

“It is a very demanding race, on the car, on the gearbox, on the brakes, there are a lot of things that you need to care of over 78 laps. “So we have to be focussed, very concentrated, we have to be sharp on the strategy, pit stops, you know anything can happen. If an opportunity comes, we will take it.”

‘EL PLAN: “Sharp on the strategy”!’;

https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/05/28...co-qualifying/


Alonso increased risk to 'uncomfortable level' in qualifying
27/05/2023 at 17:02
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

Fernando Alonso says he went all-in and then some in Saturday's mesmerizing qualifying session in Monaco on his way to securing a spot on the front row of Sunday's race. Alonso seized the top spot from local hero Charles Leclerc in the final minute of the session with a lap that put the Aston Martin driver on the ragged edge more times than he cared to remember.

But the two-time world champion's best effort was ultimately beaten by a flying Max Verstappen who edged Alonso by just 0.084s by outpacing the latter in the final sector. The 41-year-old acknowledged however that Monaco's final sector was his weakest.

The Aston Martin garage erupted when Alonso popped to the top of the timing screens, but he knew that Verstappen would pull out the stops to snatch pole. Fernando Alonso: "So when they told me that we were P1 with just Tsunoda and Max completing the laps, I knew that the possibility was there to be P2."

‘EL PLAN: All-in and then some’;

https://f1i.com/news/475348-alonso-i...ualifying.html


Alonso was “over the limit” in pursuit of Monaco Grand Prix pole
27th May 2023, 16:49
Written by Keith Collantine

Fernando Alonso says there was little more he could have done to beat Max Verstappen to pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix. The Aston Martin driver came within a tenth of a second of taking pole in a closely-fought qualifying session. Verstappen took pole away from him with his final lap.

Alonso admitted he was already pushing very hard and doubts there is more he could have done to beat Verstappen. “I think both laps in Q3 we were increasing the level of risk into an uncomfortable level,” he said. “I think both laps in Q3 were a little bit over the limit sometimes, but everything went fine.”

‘EL PLAN: Pushing very hard’;

https://www.racefans.net/2023/05/27/...and-prix-pole/


HIGHLIGHTS: Relive an action-packed qualifying as Verstappen takes pole in Monaco over Alonso
27 May 2023
Formula One - Official Site

Max Verstappen left it late to take his first ever pole position in Monaco, pipping Fernando Alonso in dramatic fashion on his final attempt in Q3 to seal a P1 start in Sunday’s Grand Prix.

Verstappen was the final driver to set a lap in Q3 and headed into the final sector two-tenths down on Alonso in provisional pole. However, a strong final sector saw the Red Bull driver pip the Spaniard by just 0.084s, with a time of 1m 11.365s.

‘EL PLAN: Relive an action-packed qualifying’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...FCgl9SCLX.html