26/03/2018
NEWS STORY
While Sebastian Vettel's canny use of the VSC and Mercedes software error grabbed the headlines, Fernando Alonso's storming drive to fifth almost slipped under the net.
Starting from tenth on the grid, in a typically bravura performance, the Spaniard subsequently benefitted from countryman Carlos Sainz' mistake - courtesy of the Renault's drink vending system - before moving up the order once the pit stops began and the subsequently the loose wheel calamity that befell the Haas pair.
In the final 22 laps of the race the McLaren driver was under intense pressure from Max Verstappen, who he had passed during the VSC period in a move similar to that which saw Sebastian Vettel take victory.
Though admitting the cards played out for him, Alonso, who has given the Woking team its best start to a season since 2014, believes that with a bit more effort he and his team can target Red Bull.
"Our race pace was more or less what we had expected," he said, "we're faster in race pace than in qualifying, but as of today we cannot get everything out of the car because we're still lacking some parts.
"I believe we are at the lowest point of our curve," he continued, "there's a lot of things we really have to improve, we need to bring the updates for the next couple of races to be close to Red Bull as soon as possible.
"The situation was always under control," he said of the fact he had Verstappen in his mirrors for the final twenty-odd laps, "and, as I said yesterday, this year we can defend our position, we can attack, so it's a different kind of racing for us.
"I would have preferred for the last few laps not to have had him behind me, because he's always a threat," he admitted, "he's a very aggressive driver on overtaking moves. I knew I had to be very careful and make no mistakes. But it was fun!
"I said on Thursday, that I think this was going to be our lowest performance level of the year. I think it's going to get better and better with races.
"I'm happy, it was a good start, as I said yesterday we have a lot of potential to get out of the car, I hope we can extract it all and hopefully in the next few races we can fight higher up the field."
Check out our Sunday gallery from Melbourne, here.