The Spaniard said on Friday that 11th would be his ideal grid position as McLaren is not competitive enough to fight closer to the front around the Mexican circuit.

Alonso would have needed to use the supersoft tyres in Q2 to reach the top 10, meaning he would start the race with that compound, which is degrading a lot.

With 11th allowing Alonso to choose the tyres to start the race with, the McLaren driver was happy with the result, screaming "Yes! Fantastic!" on the radio after the end of Q2.

"It's not very nice to be happy for being 11th, but in the situation that we are in I think it's the best position for the start, on the clean side," said Alonso.

"A few races ago we were fighting for seventh or eighth, now we are fighting for ninth or 10th, so 11th being able to choose the tyres is the best option.

"We needed a bit of luck and a surgeon job to try to get 11th position."

Although the two-time champion expects to use the soft tyres at the start of the race, he said the track conditions have improved and that his options are still open.

"I think so," he said when asked whether he'd be starting with the softs. "The supersoft has been degrading a lot in the practice sessions, so it would be very risky to start with it tomorrow.

"But the track is improving and there's a better feeling with the tyres, so we'll see. We have that possibility that the top 10 don't have so we'll try to seize it."