Fernando Alonso adopted a typically pragmatic approach following Chinese Grand Prix qualifying. As Felipe Massa missed the top ten shootout and slid down to 12th place, the Spaniard qualified ninth behind possible future team-mate Sergio Pérez.
“We will just stay focussed for the race,” Alonso said in the paddock. “The championship is a target for Ferrari every year, because of the team’s history and the passion to win, but of course we’re not stupid. We know we are a long way behind and we know that we need to work on it. One second is a big gap.”
He went on to stress that aerodynamics still require a massive improvement.
“That is the first priority,” Alonso continued. “Once we’re happy with the car we will see what the gap is but, at the moment, it’s just too big because the car doesn’t work.”
The Oviedo man is not surprised by the pace of Sauber which, with its customer Ferrari engines, has sealed third on the grid with Kamui Kobayashi.
“They were one of the quickest teams in testing, one of the quickest in Australia and maybe they deserved the win in Malaysia,” he admitted.
Heading into Sunday’s race, Alonso’s Sepang victory has left him at the top of the Drivers’ Championship table, five points ahead of McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton.
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| Pos. | Driver | Team | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  N. Rosberg | Mercedes | 01:35.121 | 11 |
| 2. | L. Hamilton | McLaren | 01:35.626 | 14 |
| 3. | M. Schumacher | Mercedes | 01:35.691 | 13 |
| 4. | K. Kobayashi | Sauber | 01:35.784 | 13 |
| 5. | K. Raikkonen | Lotus | 01:35.898 | 15 |
| 6. | J. Button | McLaren | 01:36.191 | 16 |
| 7. | M. Webber | Red Bull | 01:36.290 | 14 |
| 8. | S. Perez | Sauber | 01:36.524 | 17 |
| 9. | F. Alonso | Ferrari | 01:36.622 | 17 |
| 10. | R. Grosjean | Lotus | no time | 15 |
| Full results | ||||
| Fernando Alonso | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| More Fernando Alonso photos | |||
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