• Ferrari

Alonso hopes to be closer to podium in Canada

ESPN Staff
June 2, 2014 « Ricciardo never doubted challenging Vettel | Force India will keep fighting up the order - Mallya »
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Fernando Alonso says Ferrari has to stay "calm" in its pursuit of Mercedes and Red Bull and insists the team will be closer to challenging for a spot on the podium in Canada.

Alonso finished a distant fourth behind Daniel Ricciardo in Monaco, which he admitted after the race was the best he could have hoped for with Sebastian Vettel's early retirement. Ferrari is still within touching distance of Red Bull in the constructors' championship, currently sitting 21 points behind in third.

Alonso admits he is fully aware Ferrari is falling short of people's expectations in 2014 but is confident the team can progress on a race-by-race basis.

"We will see, I think we need to be calm and work hard," Alonso said when asked about his expectations for Canada. "We need to deliver what the expectations are. We have brought new parts to every race this year - some of them work fine, some of them didn't work, so we just need to make the most of the new parts in Canada.

"Hopefully we can have a good Friday with a good test and make those parts work, then hopefully we will be closer to the podium [than Monaco]. I have no doubts we will be more and more competitive every race, though how much I don't know."

Despite his confidence for Canada, Alonso also knows Ferrari has to be wary of Mercedes and Red Bull making equal gains out in front.

"Our pace [in Monaco] was good and that means, bit by bit, we are improving. Sure, the gap to the leaders is still significant, because like us they are moving forward on the development front. Therefore we must try to do better, starting with Canada."

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