YAS MARINA, Abu Dhabi -- Fernando Alonso says scoring points at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is more important to McLaren than making Q3 on Saturday evening.
Alonso and teammate Jenson Button finished just outside of the top ten in FP2's qualifying simulations on a mixed day for the team, with the latter delayed for a long stint in the garage. With Williams and Force India looking competitive in the desert Alonso does not think McLaren is guaranteed to make a step forward in qualifying, but already has one eye on the team's constructors' championship ambitions.
"I don't think we can read too much into what happened today," Alonso said. "In FP1 we didn't really go for a time because we were trying many different things that are important for the future but not for this weekend.
"In FP2 yes, we did the normal program but other teams had issues, like Toro Rosso, that couldn't really do any lap times, so it's still difficult to know where we are. Nevertheless, come qualifying I don't think it will be hugely different from what we've seen in the last few races, the top six are on a different level, then there are Williams and Force India that looks like they'll lock Q3 out and then we seem to be behind them, with a number of teams fighting for the best places behind the top ten and, of course, if one of the Williams or the Force India fails, then the faster of our group will make it into Q3."
Alonso says McLaren's main focus is on keeping Toro Rosso at bay in the fight for sixth in the championship, which they currently lead by 12 points.
"Hopefully we can get into Q3 but this weekend's goal is a different one: to score points, try to finish ahead of the two Toro Rosso or just behind them, so they cannot make up for the 12 points deficit they have for us, while learning as much as possible for 2017. In fact the last three races we've been just working for 2017 on the Friday sessions, and today was no different."