McLaren blames communication error for Alonso tyre confusion
McLaren says that the mistake in putting Fernando Alonso on to old tyres at the start of Q2 at the Austrian Grand Prix was down to a communication error.
McLaren
Alonso was unhappy that his hopes of getting through to the final qualifying shoot-out were wrecked when he was sent out for the crucial first run without brand new rubber.
Afterwards, he said such mistakes should not happen at a time when the team needs to make the most of all the opportunities that come its way.
"We are already not too quick. We are not in a very good position, and if on top of that we make those primary school mistakes, it's frustrating," he said.
McLaren racing director Eric Boullier has explained, however, that the problem emerged when a radio message from the pitwall to use new tyres did not get through.
"To be clear, we saw the rain coming and both cars were supposed to go on a new set of tyres," he said.
"The decision was made from the pit wall to go on a new set and something was wrong when people called for the tyres. That is it."
McLaren coup
Despite the disappointment for Alonso, Boullier said that the fact Jenson Button got through to Q3 and ended up fifth fastest – and will start third – felt like a bit of a 'coup'.
"Well, it gives a smile a bit obviously," he said. "We all know it is thank to the conditions we could qualify as high as five, but we also have mixed emotions.
"Fernando we had a bit of a wrong call on tyres, a bit of a misunderstanding in the garage, but the truth is he went to a yellow flag, which is why we could not get him into Q3.
"So obviously, a bit of a smile on one side of the garage, happy to have done a coup and used the conditions. But still mixed emotions."
Button said he was overjoyed with the result, but was not getting his hopes carried away from the race.
"When I crossed the line and the guys said I was P5 I was ecstatic," he said. "We were P5 because we did a good job. Fair enough, we got lucky to get P3, but take P5, sometimes you have to have luck on your side which I don't feel we have had in qualifying this year.
"I don't know what is going to happen in the race. We just have to enjoy the moment and that is what we did."
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