Fernando Alonso takes a dig at Ferrari after a Q2 exit of Leclerc and Sainz at Canadian Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso couldn't resist a dig at his former team Ferrari after his strong qualifying performance at the Canadian Grand Prix. While Alonso managed to secure a spot in Q3, Ferrari struggled, failing to make it past Q2 despite high expectations following their performance in Monaco.

The Monte Carlo Grand Prix saw Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc take victory, closing the gap to Max Verstappen and Red Bull in the standings and sparking hopes of a competitive title fight. However, Ferrari fell short of their goals in Montreal. Neither Leclerc nor Carlos Sainz advanced to Q3, with Leclerc set to start 11th on the grid and Sainz 12th.

This was a stark contrast to Aston Martin's performance, which saw both Alonso and teammate Lance Stroll make it into the top ten, qualifying in sixth and ninth positions respectively. Alonso seized the opportunity to take a jab at Ferrari and Sergio Perez, who failed to make it out of Q1.

“We are in front of good people: Perez, the two Ferraris that suddenly came to win the World Championship after Monaco,” Alonso told DAZN. The double World Champion, chasing his first points since the Miami Grand Prix, acknowledged that luck would play a significant role in Sunday’s race, especially with rain forecasted.

Fernando Alonso opens up about potential rain at Montreal

Reflecting on his qualifying result, Fernando Alonso noted, “Definitely a good position to start after the last two events when we were out in Q1 so that was race over basically. But now obviously starting P6 and P9 we have a chance to score points.” 

He added that the car felt better and the team was more confident heading into the race. Alonso also highlighted the unpredictability of the race due to potential rain and the lack of long-run data from practice sessions.

“Tomorrow is going to be all tyre management, without the P2 long runs we go into the unknown a little bit in the race. And if it does rain it’s one of those races that if you stop for the intermediate tyres one lap too late or one lap too soon your race is over so you have to time it perfectly. A little bit of luck will be needed for everyone”, says Alonso.

As the Canadian Grand Prix looms, Alonso's comments add an extra layer of drama and anticipation, with fans eager to see how the race will unfold under potentially challenging conditions.