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Fernando Alonso

Alonso addresses Sprint repair concern after Ocon crash damage

The Aston Martin driver collided with former team-mate Esteban Ocon at Turn 3 in the Sprint Shootout, causing major damage to both cars and triggering a lengthy red flag.

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Fernando Alonso rued being in the "wrong place at the wrong time" after his session-ending Sprint Shootout collision with Esteban Ocon.

During the closing minutes of the first segment in the Interlagos shootout, Alonso was on a cool lap and off the racing line into Turn 3, as Ocon came past on a flying lap with the Alpine sitting in the elimination zone.

Ocon got a snap of oversteer around the left-hander and collected the left-front of the Aston Martin, spitting him into the barrier and causing severe damage to his car, triggering a lengthy red-flag for tyre barrier repairs.

Despite the team's best efforts, Aston Martin could not fix the damage to Alonso's car in time, meaning he sat out SQ2, and will start 15th at best - if the damage can be repaired.

Alonso responds to Ocon contact

"Unfortunately, we could not complete the qualifying and it is a shame that both cars were out of qualifying, with a lot of damage to both," Alonso explained to F1TV following the incident.

"Someone told me that he lost the car a little bit and it was one of those situations of being in the wrong place at the wrong moment.

"We had great pace [in Grand Prix qualifying], but struggled a bit more [in the Sprint Shootout], so there are some question marks on our pace, but I am more confident than Mexico [and the United States]."

On whether the car would be repaired in time for the Sprint, Alonso insisted: "It should be fine."

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