Alonso reigns in Spain again

Fernando Alonso yesterday provided Spain with a lift in a time of crisis courtesy of his third victory on home soil.

The hordes of Spanish fans around Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya, and the millions more watching on television, will not care that it was a horribly messy affair, complicated by a staggering 79 pit stops.

Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery at least held his hands up and admitted that at an average of four stops per driver was not in their plans and nor should it be going forward, with changes likely.