I’ve already lost 66 points, it’s frustrating, says Alonso of Alpine’s performance

Fernando Alonso has been very unlucky this season. Especially when it comes to the reliability of his Alpine. Despite a great race, Alonso didn’t even finish the race in Mexico when he shut his car down on lap 65 due to engine failure.

Alonso had another great race weekend at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The Spanish legend qualified ninth for the start of the Mexican Grand Prix after Saturday’s qualifying session, after which he moved up to the No. 7 position.

In Mexico, Alonso was the best of the rest of the world in terms of finishing position, but he didn’t finish that race either. Although he initially praised the Mexican Grand Prix on team radio.

But on lap 62, Alonso retired his car due to engine failure. It should be noted that the forty-one-year-old Alpine driver had complained of overheating several laps earlier. Needless to say, Alonso was very frustrated.

Alonso’s statement

He said he had already lost 60 points due to Alpine’s unreliability. “Twenty laps from the end I lost one cylinder, so I was running with only five cylinders and had 20% less power. I was 20 seconds ahead of McLaren and my teammate (Esteban Ocon),” Alonso explained at a press conference, quoted by Racing News 365.

“So I think from that moment on, the race was exceptional. In terms of pace, I had my best races here and in Austin. I think I’ve already lost 60 points this year, and if we add another 6, we’re at 66.” he continued.

With 71 points, Alonso is currently ninth in the drivers’ championship, eleven points behind his stablemate in eighth. On the other hand, he has a 24-point lead over Valtteri Bottas (47), the tenth man in the standings.

This was the fifth race Alonso has not finished this year. And apart from the race at Imola, they all involved reliability issues. In Mexico and Singapore it was engine failure, in Saudi Arabia and Italy it was a water pump going and pressure problems.

“It’s amazing that only one or two cars have retired from each race this year and it’s always the #14 car that has blown five engines this year. I’m at the highest level at the moment, yet my position at the end of the season will be one of the lowest. It’s a bit frustrating, but I can’t do anything,” Alonso added.

F1, Racing News 365