Alonso: We must be doing something right

In a week where quotes by former team chief Marin Whitmarsh coupled to reports of dissent among staff at the team headquarters in Woking grabbed headlines, their woeful performance at Circuit Paul Ricard will only add to the pressure being piled on the team's leadership.

Alonso claimed he did all he could and was quick to point out that his effort was good enough to beat his teammate Stoffel Vandoorne. It was the first time this season that the Spaniard failed to progress into Q2, but he still has an 8-0 qualifying record against his Belgian teammate.

Asked how he felt regarding the difference between the highs of Le Mans and the lows of qualifying at Le Castellet, "Nothing, normality, normality."

"On the personal side I'm trying to do everything possible. I believe I'm the only one right now who is 8-0 against the champion (Vandoorne) in GP2 and all the categories he raced in."

"This is Formula 1. You need the right package and the right place. These last races have not been good for us but amid all this disaster we are seventh in the championship, so we must be doing something right."

The two-time world champion, who failed to finish in Monaco and Canada, added, "We were sort of okay all Friday and then the last lap was pretty good but we never know how fast the other teams are. Today we had these difficulties."

"The four laps were good, two tenths better than my teammate, who has won several races here, so it is what it is."

Alonso expects that only rain will disrupt the Formula 1 pecking order, "The same as in the last few races. A train of cars all Sunday."

"Those on pole will be fastest, they will start first and run away. The second ones will start second and run away. The third ones will start third and will run away."

"The weather could play the most important part. If it rains like this morning or if there's changing conditions it will probably be a more chaotic race. If it doesn't rain, it will be more complicated to overtake," added Alonso.

McLaren team chief Eric Boullier summed up: “Today was very disappointing."