Montmelo, Barcelona: Germany’s Mercedes star Nico Rosberg followed up his Spanish Grand Prix win last Sunday by setting the fastest time on the first session of two days of private testing at the Circuit de Catalunya.
Rosberg was a full two seconds faster than his closest rival Ferrari’s Raffaele Marciello and almost three seconds ahead of third placed Pastor Maldonado of Lotus.
The German, second in the world standings 20 points behind teammate Lewis Hamilton after five Grand Prix, also put in 78 laps, 24 more than Marciello.
Spanish Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso, who is yet to pick up points this season, has accepted that he is going through “a transitional period” but is convinced his McLaren car will be competitive in the future to win races.
Alonso failed to complete Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix race due to a brake problem, reports Efe.
The two-time Formula One world champion also believes it would be “unfair” to be “sad” about his poor form.
“It would be so unfair to be sad or not happy. I am a Formula One driver, I have two world championships, I am the driver with the most points in the history of Formula One, and I have the best family in the world,” he said on Monday.
However, the Spaniard has accepted that his car is not very competitive, “I’m sad because I’m in a transitional period that will last a certain period of time before I win again.”
“To have a trophy in the cabinet at home is an ego problem or materialistic thing, something that I do not miss,” he added.
The statements are in contrast with those made on Sunday by his teammate, Jenson Button, who acknowledged that it will be difficult to pick up points this season with the current car. Alonso defended the British driver, saying that his reaction “is part of the frustration” after fighting “against the odds.”
“Yesterday was a difficult race for us. Since February, we have sent out a thousand positive messages and yesterday was one small negative comment, which had much impact because I have been answering the same question all morning. We must be careful, we should understand,” he stated.
