Alonso to start Monaco GP from last after crash; damaged Ferrari not fixed for qualifying

Alonso crashes, will start last at Monaco GP

MONACO — Fernando Alonso will start the Monaco Grand Prix from last place after he crashed in practice and the Ferrari couldn’t be repaired in time for qualifying.

Alonso slid into the barrier after 21 minutes of Saturday’s final free practice session, damaging the front suspension and breaking off his front right tire.

Ferrari says the chassis was also damaged and the car won’t be available for the afternoon qualifying session ahead of Sunday’s 78-lap race.

“I locked the front left tire and I went straight into the wall,” Alonso said. “It was a little bit also (an) unlucky situation. If I crash 100 times, 99 (times) I will never break the chassis. But this time it happens, so (there’s) nothing you can do.”

Felipe Massa is considered Ferrari’s best hope of victory this weekend with the Brazilian second fastest in practice behind Robert Kubica.

“We’re going to try and fight to the end,” said Massa, who trails overall Formula One leader Jenson Button of McLaren by 21 points. “It’s never game over.”

Alonso was fastest in both of Thursday’s free practice sessions and was coming off a second-place finish at the Spanish GP.

Alonso, a two-time winner at the winding street circuit course, is three points behind Button after five races. Alonso believes the crash could hurt him in the overall points race.

“It’s still too early but if I lose the championship for a couple of points, then no doubt it could be because of this,” the two-time world champion said.