Formula One news

Front row yields no points for Alonso

Fernando Alonso was disappointed to finish ninth in Shanghai having started the Grand Prix from a front row grid slot. The 2005 and 2006 champion qualified second for the first time in nearly a year on Saturday, but a safety car started race hindered any chance the Spaniard had of scoring points in China.

Starting with the lightest car on the grid, Alonso's strategy required a rapid start to the race, and was expected to be leading on the first lap. Instead, a safety car start saw him pit on lap eight and sink to the back of the train, through which he battled back to ninth by the end of the race, missing out on points by one position.

Alonso qualified alongside Vettel in qualifying on Saturday

"It's a disappointing end to a weekend where we showed a lot of potential," said the former double World Champion. "The team have done a great job to improve the car, which was very competitive, especially yesterday when we qualified on the front row. However, today we were unlucky and I think it's one of those days when you take decisions at the wrong moment and everything seems to turn against you. We thought that the safety car would be out for the next 10 or 15 laps so we came in to get fuel, and at the same time the safety car came in so we found ourselves starting the race last. We had been on the first row on the grid, and all of a sudden we were last and that was the end of our race; Bahrain will be another big test, and then we have Barcelona so we need to keep improving."

The French team made best use of a new double diffuser on Alonso's car this weekend as well as postponing use of the KERS device. Despite the frustrations of China, Flavio Briatore - whose second driver, Piquet, finished 16th - is attempting to remain optimistic. "This was not a normal race, and it's a pity that we couldn't really see the potential of the car," said the Renault managing director. "The conditions were difficult and everyone seemed to struggle, except for the top three. Fernando has shown with his qualifying performance that the car is improving, but unfortunately we were penalised by the bad weather. The car is getting better and more competitive, and by Bahrain we will have new parts on both cars - the championship is long and I'm confident that, from Bahrain, things will get better for us."

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