Alonso puts future on hold

FernandoAlonso_high_s

Heading into this weekend's German Grand Prix, the two-time world champion has managed just one solitary podium finish in 2014 - third place at the Chinese GP in June.

However, Alonso - fourth in the race for the Drivers' Championship behind Mercedes leader Nico Rosberg - said his sole focus was ending the season on a high.

"It is the same question every year in July from 2004 or 2003 – so it is eleven years," the 32-year-old told reporters on Thursday.

"I haven't talked with any other team and it is not, at the moment, my priority.

"We have to score some good points this weekend and get some good results this year. Then the future we will see..."

A more pressing issue for Alonso is this weekend's race at the Hockenheimring.

And despite being a five-time German GP winner, Alonso is predicting a difficult weekend for the Ferrari team, who are third in the constructors' standings - 120 points adrift of Mercedes.

"We have hot temperatures and soft and supersoft tyres, which automatically requires some tyre management in those temperatures," he said.

"In the last races with these kinds of temperatures we were not very competitive, like Canada and some other races [this year].

"Here we have some new parts and hopefully they will bring some performance and help with cooling. But we know it is going to be difficult."

Alonso added: "Our intention and our target is to beat some of our main competitors for the Constructors' Championship.

"Between third and seventh place in the Constructors' Championship it is getting very tight and will be very tight until the end of the season.

"Here is the first opportunity that we have to reduce the gap to Red Bull and increase it if we can to Williams and McLaren – they are becoming very strong. I think it is going to be interesting."

Author(s)