22446398897100068093e99428ece21c8baf2b32

Alonso: "Today was a bit of a coincidence"

20:10, 08 Apr 2018

byJake Williams-Smith

McLaren recovered from a disappointing qualifying to score decent points on Sunday.

Fernando Alonso says his seventh-place finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix was "a coincidence". The Spaniard had started from 13th position but was soon up to eighth place after a typically strong opening lap from the veteran.

"We fixed it (qualifying) on the opening lap, didn't we?" said Alonso.

"When I looked in the mirrors and I saw Hamilton behind I thought 'I don't know what position I'm in but it can't be too bad if Hamilton is behind.

"We were still lacking a bit of pace in the race to be with Hulkenberg and to attack the Haas.

"A pretty difficult weekend saved by the bell at the last moment with two cars in the points and with good points for the team, but we know we have to improve because today was a bit of a coincidence."

He currently sits fourth in the drivers' championship and McLaren are above Red Bull and are fourth in the constructors' championship. Alonso said he was pleased with how the season had begun, even if the car wasn't performing strongly at all times.

"The race is not just about car performance.

"It's about saving fuel, the tyres, the start, the first corner, the first lap - there's a lot more factors and we are usually better on Sundays than on Saturday.

"We know it's been a particularly strange weekend for us." Alonso added.

"Very hard, too slow, especially in qualifying, and we need to improve in the upcoming races because starting from so far back (means) it's complicated.

"But anyway, fifth in Australia, seventh here, 10 points there, six here, we would have taken 16 points before starting the championship in Barcelona, so I'm very happy about that."