66th, Alonso's Masterclass: From Tenth to Glory in Valencia Epic
He was a fraction over two-tenths slower than Q2’s fastest lap – but 11th on the grid was 11th on the grid. Although it meant he had a set of fresh slicks for the race, disappointment for once peeked from behind his usual punchy optimism.
Fernando Alonso had come up short at home.
Sunday dawned hot. His getaway wasn’t great but his car’s body language was positive. Every first-lap opportunity had to be grabbed. He ran wide over Turn One’s kerb but kept his foot in to pass Jenson Button. Tenth. Nico Rosberg and Paul di Resta, clumsily mixing it and distracted, were outfumbled entering and exiting Turns Four and Five. Ninth. And eighth.
Alonso’s second push was launched just before the first round of stops. Sixth by lap 14, he stayed out longer than most, pushed like hell, and gobbled up another couple.