Alonso thought points would be "impossible"

Fernando Alonso felt a points finish would prove “impossible” to achieve after getting caught up in the opening lap chaos in the Spanish Grand Prix. 

Alonso started from eighth on the grid having made Q3 for the first time this season but was forced to take evasive action when Romain Grosjean spun on the exit of Turn 3 and collided with Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly’s Toro Rosso.

The Spaniard ran wide and subsequently lost a number of positions, but recovered to finish eighth following a long battle with Sauber’s Charles Leclerc as he extended his points-scoring streak to five races. 

“We started with the softer tyre because we qualified on the red-marked tyre so the aim was to gain positions in the first couple of laps and then stop very early, but we lost positions on the first lap with the incident at Turn 2.

“So we found ourselves in a very difficult position in lap two and then I felt it was impossible to get the points today. But luckily we had a good race, we keep scoring points, five consecutive races in the points. That’s what we wanted today and I am happy right now.”

Teammate Stoffel Vandoorne was a late retirement with a suspected gearbox issue and Alonso admits he did not ask his team about the problem because he did not want to start worrying. 

“I saw Stoffel’s car stop on the track and I didn’t want to ask what the problem was because I didn’t want to get too worried about what might happen. My car was working perfectly all the race and I’m happy with the points and keeping fourth in the constructors’ championship.”