Alpine chief Otmar Szafnauer was blunt when dismissing the idea that Fernando Alonso has been "failed" by his team this season.
The Spaniard has looked quick all season in an A522 which is certainly capable of delivering some impressive results. Fifth at Silverstone was his best of the season, two weeks after he stunned the grid by qualifying on the front row alongside Max Verstappen for the Canadian Grand Prix.
But it has been far from smooth sailing for the 40-year-old. A prime example is that race in Montreal, which seemed destined to hold a big haul of points but was ruined by power loss which saw him drop from second to ninth.
