Alonso pleased with 'overall pace' but points needed in Oz

Fernando Alonso says a bigger bag of points was the only thing missing from his first two races of 2022, but the Alpine charger hopes that will change this weekend in Australia.

Alonso finished ninth in F1's opening round in Bahrain, two positions behind Alpine teammate Esteban Ocon.

But the two-time world champion was running comfortably among the top-ten and had the upper hand over the Frenchman in Saudi Arabia when an engine issue thwarted his efforts and deprived him of a solid haul of points in a race that Ocon concluded P6.

"We deserve to be much higher in the standings after two races," admitted Alonso. "Our car has been good and the performance has also been good over the weekends.

"Last weekend was a disappointment as we looked comfortable and set for sixth position until we had our retirement.

"It was frustrating but we can be pleased with our overall pace so far. Sundays is where the points are scored so we just need to make sure we score points then.

"The whole team is working hard to make sure we keep on top of our development."

In Jeddah, Alonso and Ocon engaged in a spirited inner-team duel that Alonso reckoned was likely the first of many on-track battles between the two Alpine chargers.

"We had some fair and exciting racing in Saudi and also in Bahrain too," he said.

"We have a lot of respect for one another. I’m sure there will be more battles with Esteban and the rest of the field this year, as apart from two cars ahead, it’s very tight between a number of teams."

• Read also: Alpine forced to change Alonso's engine for Australian GP

The 40-year-old F1 veteran is obviously no stranger to Melbourne, having raced seventeen times around Albert Park, with his last race at the venue dating back to 2018 with McLaren.

But the Australian Grand Prix promoters have implemented a few changes to the Albert Park street circuit since 2019 when F1 last raced Down Under.

Like his colleagues, Alonso hopes the alterations will improve overtaking opportunities and the show on the track.

"It’s been a while, but we are all happy to be back," he said.

"It usually acts as the first race of the season, so it’ll be interesting to see if the weather is any different to what we have previously experienced in Melbourne.

"I like the track and whilst it’s quite difficult to overtake the changes have been made to encourage this, so we’ll see how it all plays out.

"I think it’s clear we won’t see the same level of overtakes as we witnessed in Bahrain and Saudi, but with these news cars it seems easier to follow, so in theory it should be easier to try overtakes here than it was in the past."

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