• Monaco Grand Prix

Alonso rues Saturday morning crash

A crash on Saturday ruled Fernando Alonso out of qualifying © Sutton Images

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• News:
• Spare cars should return - Domenicali
  

• Race:
• Monaco Grand Prix

• Championship:
• FIA Formula One World Championship

• Drivers:
• Fernando Alonso
• |
• Michael Schumacher

• Teams:
• Ferrari

Fernando Alonso was left wondering what might have been after fighting through the field from last to sixth at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Any chance of challenging for a win was lost in Saturday morning's practice session when Alonso crashed and damaged his chassis beyond repair, ruling him out of qualifying.

"It's hard to say what might have been, if I had taken part in qualifying: I was definitely on form and pole was within our reach. We must stay calm and work well: the results will come and it was clear to see today how talented our team is. At the end of the nineteen races in the championship we will see who is strongest. If it's not us, it will mean someone else did a better job, not because we haven't tried our best."

On the final lap Alonso was passed by Michael Schumacher into the last corner, after a safety car had bunched up the pack. He was given the position back after the race, but said he had not attempted to block Schumacher in the knowledge the Mercedes driver would be penalised.

"The team told me we couldn't overtake so when I saw Michael [I thought] that's a lot better, as they will penalise him, so we will end up winning anyway."

He added that Red Bull, which took a one-two victory in Monaco, were currently unbeatable.

"As of today, under normal circumstances, they are unbeatable, but they have shared wins and bad luck between them so no one has run away and that's the best news for us. But we are also realistic and we know we have to improve. We have to be quicker in qualifying and we have to win races like they do and let's hope that happens soon."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.