Formula One news

Alonso annoyed by lost podium chance

An opportunity to achieve a podium finish was lost for Fernando Alonso after being struck at the start of the Belgian Grand Prix by the spinning Force India of Adrian Sutil. However, with the extent of left-front wheel damage remaining unknown to the Renault team, the Spaniard eventually retired on Lap 27.

Alonso lies joint 11th in the championship after Belgium

With the contact having damaged Alonso's left-front wheel fairing, the team spent some 35 seconds removing the wheel at the former double Champion's sole pit-stop of the race although, with the damage now known and with the Hungarian Grand Prix still fresh in the mind, Renault chose to retire Alonso on safety grounds.

"Today I missed an opportunity to be on the podium," he said, having climbed to third from 13th on the grid. "I had a good start, making up a few positions, and the strategy looked good. The car was better than we expected and I was in third position when I came in for my pit-stop.

"It became clear that something was wrong on my left-front tyre and the team asked me to retire. We now think it was damaged at the first corner at the beginning of the race. Anyway, Monza is in two weeks and I look forward to making up for the disappointment of today."

If paddock rumours are anything to go by, Monza should also mark the weekend that Ferrari announce Alonso as a race driver for next year.

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