F1: Alonso says Red Bull still dominant

By Jonathan Noble and Sam TremayneThursday, July 28, 2011, 16: 45 GMT

Fernando Alonso believes that Red Bull remains the dominant formula one force, even if Ferrari and McLaren seemed to have the edge in race pace at the Nurburgring circuit.

Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber asked his team to respond to the growing threat from Ferrari and McLaren at Germany, but despite scoring more points than any other driver during the last three races Alonso says Red Bull are still the team to beat.

"No, I think that no," Alonso said when asked if Ferrari was close to Red Bull as the dominant brand replacement. "First and second in the classification of Silverstone, first and third at the Nürburgring circuit (are) still dominant."

"It is necessary that both cars in the top three consistently in the classification and the race if we want to say that Ferrari is dominant at this time".

Despite this assessment, Alonso was in bullish mood about his own career prospects as higher temperatures and it is expected that the return of the super gum Pirelli for the Scuderia.

"I have no doubt that softer tyres work a little better with our cars, so that we can maximize career." Obviously also want as hot as possible, but at the moment it's raining so I hope we will see for the Saturday and Sunday.

"We repeat a couple of times, had a wind tunnel issue (at the beginning of the season), for which we have struggled to understand our problems." It is a pity to have these three or four months with the problem, but now it is also very encouraging that the problems are in the past and we hope for the rest of the season and also for the coming year.

"I think we have to do another step (in Hungary) but because as I said Red Bull is still the reference".