Formula One news

'Maximum' effort and two points for Alonso

Fernando Alonso was satisfied to have finished seventh in the Monaco Grand Prix after claiming that his performance was the 'maximum' possible with the Renault R29 in Monaco. The Spaniard finished two places ahead of his starting position on the way to claiming two points and moving to seventh in the World Championship.

In midfield traffic for much of the race, Oviedo's Alonso - who won in Monaco in 2006 and 2007 - was pleased to have come away with a points finish, despite a side-by-side moment with a former team-mare. "It was the maximum we could do today," he told his country's La Sexta. "Starting from ninth was very complicated and there were moments during the race when we were unable to push, with Fisichella in front and then some traffic at the end."

He did admit, however, that his rise was assisted at some points during the Grand Prix by the demise of others. "We knew the ones in front were unreachable and we have finished seventh because Kovalainen and Vettel crashed," he explained. "When I could push, the times were pretty good but it hasn't been a great weekend in terms of speed.

"We haven't been quick enough in qualifying or the race so we have to improve for the next race in Turkey; we have a new front wing so let's see if we can get a bit closer to the front with that." The race in Istanbul, Round 7 of 2009, will be taking place in two weeks' time.

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