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Alonso expects Williams to be faster in dry race

Fernando Alonso believes he will struggle to keep the Williams car behind him in the Brazilian Grand Prix if the race is in the dry.

Fernando Alonso, McLaren MP4-31

Fernando Alonso, McLaren MP4-31

XPB Images

Fernando Alonso, McLaren MP4-31
Fernando Alonso, McLaren MP4-31
Valtteri Bottas, Williams FW38
Fernando Alonso, McLaren MP4-31
Fernando Alonso, McLaren F1
Felipe Massa, Williams FW38

The Spanish driver enjoyed a strong Saturday and made it into Q3, securing 10th place on the grid ahead of the two Williams of Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa, who had been strong in practice.

McLaren driver Alonso admitted that unless it rains, he expects the Williams duo to beat him.

"I think that's a big threat for us," said Alonso. "Williams has been very strong all weekend and I think it's more a coincidence than a problem that they are not in Q3. We've been lucky and thanks to that we were in Q3.

"I think it wet conditions we can beat them but in dry conditions it will be hard.

"Tomorrow, with the weather and the chance of rain, is good to start in the top 10."

Alonso still feels McLaren deserved to be in the top 10 today after performing strongly in all the qualifying segments.

"I'm very happy. I enjoyed qualifying. We deserved to be in Q3. Then we lacked a few tenths to gain more places, but we weren't dreaming too much.

"It was good. I felt confident with the car. The cooler conditions suit our package compared to yesterday and I felt much more confident."

He added: "We were a little bit worried after FP3 because we didn't find the pace, and then seeing Jenson [Button] out in Q1 we were even more worried because it was not our Saturday. But my car was delivering perfectly okay and I really enjoyed."

Teammate Jenson Button had been knocked out in Q1 and will start from 17th position.

 

 

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