Sweet and sour for Alonso

Blown engine puts paid to hopes of home hero

Last updated: 27th April 2008

fernando alonso renault 27/4/2008

Alonso: good first step

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Fernando Alonso said he had a "sweet and sour" weekend in Barcelona after a blown engine wrecked his Spanish Grand Prix hopes.

Since returning to Renault this season, the double world champion has struggled to compete with the likes of Ferrari and McLaren Mercedes.

However, following a promising test at the Circuit de Catalunya last week, the 26-year-old sent expectation levels soaring among home fans after qualifying second on the grid at the same track on Saturday.

But, after dropping to third behind polesitter Kimi Raikkonen and the latter's Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa on the run down to the first corner, the lighter fuel load Alonso had used in qualifying conspired against him.

He to pit on lap 16, ahead of the other frontrunners, and as a result dropped down to fifth place.

Alonso was running in fifth place when his engine expired on lap 35, to the bitter disappointment of the majority of the 132,000 crowd.

Upbeat

Nevertheless, despite the ultimately disappointing end to a weekend that had promised much, Alonso preferred to remain upbeat.

"This weekend has been both sweet and sour," he said.

"The car was very competitive and we were up there with the Ferraris and the BMWs, which is a good first step."

Having finished a desultory 10th in the Bahrain Grand Prix three weeks ago, Alonso also believes Renault will be more competitive as the season progresses.

"I think now we should hopefully start enjoying races again and racing closer to the front," he added.

"Although it was disappointing not to finish, it was a nice surprise to see that we are more competitive than we thought we would be."

Renault team boss Flavio Briatore echoed Alonso's sentiments, adding: "It is disappointing to come away with nothing, especially after such a hopeful weekend.

"Fernando drove impeccably and in spite of the engine problem, we have seen that the car is very competitive and we can look forward to the next race."