Alonso: FOM is quite annoying with my radio

During Q2 the following exchange was broadcast between McLaren driver and his engineer:

Fernando. Do you think we should do a new set of inters or wets? New inters or wets?
Alonso: We should go to the garage and see the conditions. With the wets, we can go out but if we are 25-seconds slower then it is just running for nothing. We need to improve the P11.
Okay, Fernando. If we did that we would just have time...it would be only for one timed lap at the end. It would be one at the end.

After the session, Alonso told reporters "FOM is quite annoying with my radio. I don't know what problem they have to always put my radio and I don't know what was not normal about the conversation we had when the track was getting worse."

"You cannot improve the times any more, you chat about which tyres to use and if it's worth doing another run or not. It's their favourite hobby, so good luck to them."

Despite the tete-a-tete Alonso again did the business on the day, outqualifying his teammate Stoffel Vandoorne for the 12th time this season despite a car that appears to lack on all fronts relative to the pacesetters.

The two times F1 world champion was nevertheless content with his afternoon's work in treacherous conditions, "It was a good qualifying anyway, I'm happy. The conditions were very difficult - you need to get a bit of luck and be in the right time on track."

"In Q1, on dry conditions, we were concerned already and thanks to the rain we are P11, close to the points. So, I think it was a lucky Saturday. We need something more on Sunday," added Alonso who turns 37 today - many Happy Returns from GP247.