Fernando Alonso says when teams show their true performance at this weekend’s season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix he is expecting to see a “few surprises”.
Following the three-day Formula 1 pre-season test in Bahrain there has been plenty of suggestions as to where which team lies in the 2021 pecking order.
Red Bull appears to be heading to Bahrain as the team to beat after showing encouraging pace around the Bahrain International Circuit, while despite suffering setbacks in testing Mercedes is predicted to remain the class of the field.
Alonso, who is returning to F1 with Alpine after a two-year spell away, believes the first qualifying session of 2021 will provide answers as to what the true pecking order will look like.
“We covered a lot of mileage during testing, which is important as it gives you something to build on for the rest of the season,” Alonso said, as quoted by Crash.net.
“We also completed most of our programme during the three days in Bahrain, so we are relatively pleased on that front.
“In terms of performance it’s too early to tell, and I think we won’t know the true pecking order of the grid until the first qualifying session on Saturday where everyone has low fuel, the fastest tyres fitted and full power from the engine. I expect there will be a few surprises.”
Alonso’s comeback hasn’t run as smoothly as initially hoped after the Spaniard was hospitalised in February when he sustained a fractured jaw in a road cycling accident.
The double world champion revealed he will race throughout the campaign with titanium plates before undergoing further surgery later in the year, but managed to rack up plenty of miles under his belt in pre-season.
“Ever since I agreed to join Alpine F1 Team, I have put a lot of effort in to be both physically and mentally prepared for this season,” Alonso said.
“I learnt a lot in my time away from Formula 1, especially all the different styles of racing, but I’m now back in F1 and very motivated for what should be a challenging season ahead.
“It was fun to be back at the wheel of an F1 car for testing, but now I can’t wait to go racing.”
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