Ferrari set to attack, with help from McLaren

German GP a ‘wake-up call’ for leaders Red Bull.

NüRBURGRING:

Spaniard Fernando Alonso and Ferrari are set to adopt a high-risk ‘full attack’ mode in every race as they bid to overhaul Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull in Formula One’s World championship with help from a revitalised McLaren.

This was made clear in the wake of the sensational victory by Briton Lewis Hamilton in the German Grand Prix, the McLaren driver outperforming all his rivals to record his second win this year and the 16th of his career.

Two-time world champion Alonso came home second, beaten by Hamilton’s sheer speed, commitment and audacity, with Red Bull’s Australian Mark Webber third ahead of his struggling – by his own high standards – teammate and defending champion Vettel.

Gap still very big: Ferrari

Following a string of improved results, Alonso and Ferrari believe that they have a chance.

“What we need to do is attack every race, to see what’s happening in the championship,” said Ferrari team chief Stefano Domenicali. “And the more drivers and cars there are that can fight to win, the easier it’s going to be for us to cut the gap, which is still very big.”

After Sunday’s Grand Prix, which marked the half-way mark in the 19-race season, Germany’s Vettel leads with 216 points ahead of Webber on 139, Hamilton on 134 and Alonso on 130.

The emergence of a revitalised McLaren with Hamilton back to his scintillating best was clear as Red Bull team chief Christian Horner admitted they had been given ‘a wake-up call’.

Meanwhile, Alonso refused to be drawn into any optimistic forecasts.

“I think it’s still the same and it’s still very difficult,” he said. “But if there is a small chance to win the championship, we need the best McLaren possible because they need to be on the podium constantly and we have to be in front of them as well.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th,  2011.