MODERATOR: Fernando, ran one lap longer into the first stint, looked as if you might have a fuel advantage, very, very close on lap 38, as Lewis said.
FERNANDO ALONSO: Yeah, very close. Also at the start was very close. But I did manage to overtake Lewis and then from then on when you follow someone you lose a little bit of downforce, and it is difficult to get the tires in conditions to push all through the stint because you damage the tires maybe a little bit more when you run behind someone. So I think I try in the middle stint, and I was side by side once here on the main straight. But, again, it was not enough to overtake him. The last stint was just maybe a conservative one, very difficult to overtake, very difficult to follow anyone. So just start thinking in the French Grand Prix.
MODERATOR: We saw you run a little bit wide on Lap 46, as well, was that a function perhaps of the tires getting a little bit dirty?
ALONSO: Yes, so difficult to run behind anyone here. I think on the main straight helps you, you can gain one or two-tenths on the main straight because you take the slipstream but, you know, in the rest of the corners you lose so much downforce, you lose so much time. So, yeah, I think this race, I think the start was the key point of the race because after that I think whatever you were second, we finish second in the race.
MODERATOR: If I could ask you, how would you describe your start?
ALONSO: Well, I think it was good, but, you know, I think we both brake more or less in the same point. The start is always risky. I remember Canada going off in the grass and losing one position. So obviously was with my teammate, you know, you try to overtake but you don’t want to finish the race in the first corner. So, eight points are better than nothing. So, you know, we increase the gap to Ferrari, which is one of the main things in this first part of the championship.
MODERATOR: Congratulations, Fernando. Thank you.
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