“It’s motivating for me and to see good comments and is funny when you see the
opposite in your closest friends.”
Although Ferrari
suggested this was directed at some critical comments in the Italian press,
they then took the unusual step of issuing a statement professing their love
for Alonso. Luca di Montezemolo, Ferrari’s president, said: “Fernando is the
best driver in the world, who always gives 200 per cent in the races.”
Alonso’s 200 per cent was good enough for fourth in the morning and first in a
damp afternoon practice.
“He knows how much I count on him, even away from the racetrack, in terms of
his contribution and the impetus he gives to the team,” Di Montezemolo
added. All is not well at Ferrari.
Alonso also admitted he has not seen any transformation since Marco Mattiacci
took over as team principal last month.
One major transformation would have been to capture the services of Adrian
Newey, the sport’s genius designer, from Red
Bull, but that is now firmly off the table. Mattiacci denied any
approach had been made, prompting laughs and raised eyebrows all-round,
particularly from the man adjacent to him in the press conference: Red
Bull’s Christian Horner.
The 40-year-old’s team is still crippled by their uncompetitive Renault
engine, but the twisty streets of Monaco offers their best chance so far
this year of a victory. After finishing third in the dry morning session,
just two-tenths behind the Mercedes, Daniel Ricciardo agreed.
“It is still early, but we are there or thereabouts with them [Mercedes],” the
Australian said. “With a few little tweaks over the next 24 hours and for
Saturday, if we get it the way we want, we will give them a run. I think if
it [beating Mercedes] is going to be anywhere, this is the place for it.”
Mercifully for Hamilton and the rest of the drivers, Friday is Monaco’s
traditional off day, so a lie-in beckons.