SHANGHAI, China - Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso has responded dismissively here to the qualifying edge currently enjoyed by his Formula 1 team mate Felipe Massa, saying he can't sleep and is losing his hair.
Massa has qualified ahead of Alonso ahead of the previous four races - the first two of 2013 and the last two of 2012 - and if he does it again at the 2013 Chinese GP it will be the first time in Alonso's career that he has been out-qualified by a team mate five straight times.
'LOSING MY HAIR'
Asked about the statistic, Alonso quipped: "I haven't slept since Australia. I'm only eating white rice. I'm losing my hair. A huge drama."
"After 200 races, it's very surprising that two qualifying sessions matter so much. I'm pleased that it's so important because it means that when I finish ahead of him it will mean I have done a stratospheric lap. We'll see if I can pull that magic here or later in 2013."
Alonso said qualifying was of decreasing importance in F1's Pirelli tyre era; there was more emphasis on tyre management. "There were years when it was vital to start from the first row or from pole but, since Pirelli arrived, qualifying has become less and less important.
"In the first two races of the season Kimi (Raikkonen) won pretty easily in Australia starting from seventh and anybody could have won in Malaysia."
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2013 Formula 1 season – fresh reports every day.
Massa has qualified ahead of Alonso ahead of the previous four races - the first two of 2013 and the last two of 2012 - and if he does it again at the 2013 Chinese GP it will be the first time in Alonso's career that he has been out-qualified by a team mate five straight times.
'LOSING MY HAIR'
Asked about the statistic, Alonso quipped: "I haven't slept since Australia. I'm only eating white rice. I'm losing my hair. A huge drama."
"After 200 races, it's very surprising that two qualifying sessions matter so much. I'm pleased that it's so important because it means that when I finish ahead of him it will mean I have done a stratospheric lap. We'll see if I can pull that magic here or later in 2013."
Alonso said qualifying was of decreasing importance in F1's Pirelli tyre era; there was more emphasis on tyre management. "There were years when it was vital to start from the first row or from pole but, since Pirelli arrived, qualifying has become less and less important.
"In the first two races of the season Kimi (Raikkonen) won pretty easily in Australia starting from seventh and anybody could have won in Malaysia."
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2013 Formula 1 season – fresh reports every day.