Alonso's 'El Plan' not yet in effect: smoking A522 causes red flag

For Fernando Alonso, the third day of testing in Barcelona started disastrously. First the Spaniard slid off with a slide and not much later he was the reason for the first red flag of the day.

Alonso and Alpine had big plans for 2022 with 'El Plan' as the motto on the back of Alonso's car in 2021. However, little of that grand plan is now coming to fruition. Alpine already struggled with the A522 during the first two test days, but the problems on day three are even bigger. With Friday afternoon's scheduled rain test, this doesn't seem ideal.

At the start of the session, Alonso already slid into the gravel trap, but was able to continue on his way. The Spaniard then had to go in for some repairs, but soon returned to the track. With a 1.21.242 (provisionally the first time) and twelve laps on the clock Alonso certainly didn't do badly either, but the Spaniard's stalled and smoking car in sector three caused the first red flag of the day.