• German Grand Prix

Alonso keen to bounce back with Hockenheim podium

Fernando Alonso is expecting a tight qualifying session in Germany © Getty Images

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• News:
• Stefano Domenicali not giving up on title
  

• Race:
• German Grand Prix

• Championship:
• FIA Formula One World Championship

• Drivers:
• Fernando Alonso

• Teams:
• Ferrari

Fernando Alonso expects the German Grand Prix will be one of the closest fought races of the season but is still aiming for a podium finish.

Alonso has had two disappointing results at the last two race weekends, after failing to score at the British Grand Prix and taking just four points at the European Grand Prix. The F10 has been competitive but Alonso has lost out in the races as a result of a stewards' decision at Silverstone and an unfortunately timed safety car at Valencia.

However, he is hoping that Ferrari can deliver the "perfect weekend" at the German Grand Prix and find the narrow performance advantage necessary to secure a place on the podium.

"I think Hockenheim can be a good race for us," he said. "I think the circuit is not too complicated and the gaps between the cars will be very narrow. So I expect a very tough battle in qualifying, with one tenth or two tenths either way being the difference between second on the grid or ninth. We need to do a perfect weekend in Hockenheim, to maximise our potential and to do the best that we can do. After that we can fight for the podium again."

He said the pace of the F10 was exceeding expectations and that it would continue to be developed over the coming races.

"I think the performance of the car at Silverstone was very, very good - a good surprise for us," he said. "The performance of the car in Valencia was very good, so two different circuits and the performance of the car was good enough to be fighting for a good position on the podium. So I think for the remaining races we are very optimistic. We are bringing some new developments on the car in the coming races as well. So we will not stop, we will fight until it isn't possible."

He added that the atmosphere at the team was still good despite the lack of points.

"I've been in Maranello four days last week working with the team," Alonso said. "I've been doing some preparations for the next races, talking a lot with the technical people. I've been in the simulator as well doing some jobs for the team and for the car.

"Overall I felt a very good atmosphere in the team. All the guys in Maranello are very, very focused on fighting for this championship. After these two bad races people are even more motivated than before because they feel we deserve a good race finally."

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