Fernando Alonso eyes home revival for Ferrari
Spaniard is hoping to resurrect his form in Spain like he did last year
Fernando Alonso returns to race on home soil this weekend hoping for an unlikely resurrection of the form and pace that delivered his and Ferrari's last victory.
That came a year ago in the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya where the two-time world champion won ahead of Kimi Raikkonen, then of Lotus, and Felipe Massa in the second Ferrari.
A repeat of that result would delight not only local Spanish fans, but also deliver a Ferrari one-two as Raikkonen joined the Italian scuderia this season for a second time.
We are quicker on the straights, but the Red Bull is very, very quick through the high-speed [corners]
It would also please Williams fans, too, because the much- improved British team is now home for the likeable Massa.
A year ago, the race may have been won by Alonso, but qualifying was dominated by the fast Mercedes pairing of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, who took the front row.
Rosberg led for 10 laps, before he fell away and finished sixth behind the two Red Bulls - a scenario that is less likely this season with Mercedes winning all four of the opening "flyaway" races ahead of this opening round of the European part of the season.
This year has seen not only the domination of Mercedes with Hamilton reeling off three straight wins following Rosberg's opening triumph in Australia, but also a solid consistency from Alonso in the chasing Ferrari.
It has also witnessed Red Bull sliding out of contention, a scenario that may change this weekend as the Milton Keynes outfit, along with the rest, will introduce a raft of car and engine updates for what is often a dull and predictable spectacle.