Fernando Alonso has been busy testing the new R25 since its launch earlier this month, the Spaniard thrilled with the way his 2005 charger has developed ahead of the season opening Australian Grand Prix this weekend. Like his colleagues, Fernando has already made his way down under and has declared himself ready for the challenge that lies in wait for him this coming weekend….
“We are ready for Melbourne. We have done a lot of running since the new car was launched, and learned a lot about the R25 – more than in previous winters,” he said. “In our last big test in Barcelona, we still had some reliability problems, but that is normal at this stage of the year and the team has worked hard to get on top of them since then. I think we understand the car well, and have made good progress with its driveability and performance in recent test sessions. Overall, it was a successful winter for the team.”
So just what is his assessment of the R25 after testing?
“I am much more confident with this car. It is easy to drive, and you can run on the limit without any nasty surprises in how the behaviour changes over long runs. It is a very consistent car.”
The Australian Grand Prix will also be the first race with the new tyre regulations and we have heard a lot from the majority of the grid on just how they anticipate things will develop. But, how does Fernando view the tyre situation?
”Michelin have done an excellent job and in terms of performance and consistency, these are the best tyres I have ever had in Formula One,” he praised. “But we cannot get too excited, because we have only run on cold circuits over the winter and the first three races will be held in much warmer conditions. We will evaluate the tyre performance very carefully during the race weekend, and see where we stand after that.”
So what are his expectations for the R25 in Melbourne?
”I don’t think Melbourne is a perfect circuit for us. Other tracks will suit our car better, but looking at the winter testing times, I hope we will be very competitive. The secret for the weekend will be to avoid problems, because nobody can afford to lose track time at the first race of the year. With a new car, and on a circuit that we only visit once a season, you need to do as many laps as possible to work on the set-up and get used to the track. So our main priority will be for the weekend to run smoothly, so we can do a maximum number of laps. In terms of competitiveness, I expect Ferrari to be the number one team still, and McLaren have looked very strong during the winter. I think those two teams will be our biggest rivals.”
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