We need to improve to catch Red Bull: Alonso

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Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso said on Saturday that they needed to improve their cars in the remaining races to catch the two speeding Red Bulls.

Alonso will start Sunday’s Indian Grand Prix in fifth position after a disappointing qualifying session, which saw the championship leader Sebastian Vettel and his teammate Mark Webber lock the front row.

“We tried to get the most out of what we had but there was no way we could be ahead of the Red Bulls and McLarens. In the end, fifth place is not so bad because it would have been easy to end up even further back if anything had gone wrong," said the two-time World Champion.

“We brought some updates here which have worked as we expected but the others have also improved over these past two weeks. It’s down to us to bring something more significant for the final three races."

The Spaniard, though, has not given up hope of winning the race and feels that he will need to make a good start to have any chance.

“I am not concerned nor demotivated because I know that things can change very quickly and that high spirits on Saturday can easily turn to sadness on Sunday.

“We must try and make up places on the first lap and try to put pressure on our main rivals, ensuring they don’t have an easy race. There are sixty laps to work with and we will need to tackle each one as if it’s qualifying, by attacking,” he said.

“I hope I can soon have a more competitive car to try and fight them on equal terms on Saturday and not just on Sunday. I am definitely not the sort to give up and that’s my real advantage.”

The Ferrari driver started the season on a bright note leading the drivers' championship for a long time. It has gone downhill for the Italian team in the last few races as Red Bull has been much superior, with Vettel winning the last three races.

“Clearly, finishing ahead of Red Bull is our aim but today it was impossible to fight them, at least in qualifying. When we had a similar car, it was possible to fight with Vettel and we have even been ahead of them."