Next 2 months are crucial: Spanish F1 driver Alonso
Manama, April 6: Spanish F1 driver Fernando Alonso (McLaren) has said at a press conference before the Bahrain Grand Prix at Yas Marina that the next two months are crucial for his team's aspirations in the Formula One World Championship.
Just a few days before the second Grand Prix of the year, Alonso on Thursday indicated that "the next two months are crucial," hoping that the team would be able to improve his car and keep putting in more performance, reports Efe.
"If it's not a world championship fight, it will hopefully be some podium positions during the year or it can be regular top six or top five positions," said the Spaniard.
Fernando came in fifth in the the opening round of the season at the Australian Grand Prix attributing it to the "the Virtual Safety Car" and the two Haas retirements of drivers Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen.
The two-time F1 world champion hopes that McLaren's performance will improve "in the coming weeks, in the next four or five or six Grands Prix."
"Over the winter we had some ups and downs in testing and then in Australia it was the same thing ... It was a good race, a lucky race," he said. "There is still for us a lot to improve if we want to catch up to the top three teams, but I think we have the potential there and hopefully we can unlock some performance in the next races."
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
