Don't rule out Kimi yet - Alonso
01/07/2005 - 16:07:55Fernando Alonso insists world championship rival Kimi Raikkonen cannot be ruled out of the fight for victory in this weekend’s French Grand Prix despite his qualifying penalty.
McLaren driver Raikkonen has been docked 10 places on the starting grid at Magny-Cours after his Mercedes engine was replaced following a blow-up early in today’s second practice.
That hands the advantage to championship leader Alonso, who has been fighting a rearguard action in recent races to hold off an attack from Raikkonen and the in-form McLaren team.
But Renault driver Alonso still counts Raikkonen as a major threat for Sunday’s race and believes he will come into his own late in the race.
Alonso said: “I think 10 places back is for sure a help for us in terms of how to prepare the qualifying and the race – we can be a little bit more conservative.
“But I’m sure he will arrive at the end of the race after the pit stops and he will be a problem anyway. We will do our race and do our maximum to win.”
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