• Hungarian Grand Prix - Qualifying

Alonso targets Vettel at Turn 1

ESPN Staff
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Fernando Alonso secured his highest qualifying position for five races at the Hungaroring © Getty Images
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Fernando Alonso is already eyeing the opportunity to get ahead of title rival Sebastian Vettel at Turn 1 of the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Ahead of the race weekend Alonso made it clear that his sole intention is to beat Vettel and reduce the gap in the championship ahead of the summer break. While he has qualified three places behind Vettel, Alonso said fifth place was a good position to be starting from and that he can attack Vettel from the outset.

"I have the chance," Alonso said. "If we started eighth or ninth and he was on pole then there's no way we can arrive to him with the start and the different strategies we can do around the pit stop times etc. But he starts second and we start fifth, so the first opportunity will be at the first corner…"

Alonso also described fifth place on the grid as "a little miracle" as Ferrari has not tended to be strong at the Hungaroring.

"Definitely I think it was a little miracle today being fifth. It is a track that has not historically been too good for Ferrari. With the slow corners and the traction you need here, to be a little bit closer to the pole position today is good news; especially after being tenth at Silverstone and eighth at the Nurburgring, coming back to the top five is good news. The laps were good, the preparation was good and the team was doing a good job setting up the car for the characteristics of this circuit."

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