On Thursday night in Jeddah, as the Spaniard took the lead on the timing screens, rumors emerged that the Aston Martins were specifically prepared for this occasion. After all, they are racing on the terrain of their main sponsor, Aramco. Therefore, having a green car at the top of the timing screens gives them the advantage to boast during Thursday night dinners and post-session parties. It’s a smart PR move!
Alonso’s fastest lap time, 1:28.827s, was 0.23s faster than George Russell in the Mercedes, who came in second, and Max Verstappen, winner of the Bahrain Grand Prix, who was a tenth of a second behind in third place with his Red Bull.
The spotlight belonged to Alonso, as his teammate, Stroll, was half a second slower than the experienced Spaniard on the high-speed circuit of Jeddah in the impressive AMR24. Only time will tell if it was a true representation of his performance, but for now, Alonso deserves recognition as the oldest driver on the grid.
Perhaps the presence of Bob Bell, who was part of Alonso’s team during his successful years at Renault in 2005-2006, also played a role in his impressive performance. Alonso commented after the session: “Driving here is always a lot of fun. It’s a challenging circuit with high-speed sections. We had a positive day, showing good pace in both sessions and on different tire compounds.”
“However, it’s important to remember that it’s only Free Practice and there are still many unknowns regarding the programs that the other teams were running today. We will analyze the data tonight and aim to build on this good start to the week as we approach qualifying,” added Alonso, who will make his 380th start in the Grand Prix on Saturday.
Despite being slower than his teammate, Stroll managed to secure a respectable sixth place, indicating that both Aston Martin cars have the potential to reach Q3 in Friday night’s qualifying session.
Reflecting on his performance, Stroll said: “I felt comfortable in the car today. It’s always good to be fastest in any session, but we shouldn’t get carried away as it’s only Free Practice. We need to focus on ourselves and not worry too much about what other teams have been doing in terms of engine modes and fuel load.”
“We shouldn’t pay too much attention to lap times, but overall, it was a positive day. We didn’t encounter any issues with the car, we completed our program, and we continued to adjust the AMR24 setup to extract more performance,” Stroll revealed.
The British team stated in their report on Friday: “A significant portion of the team’s first practice session (FP1) was done on hard tires before switching to softs towards the end of the session. In FP2, they gained experience on the medium tires before moving to softs for qualifying simulations. Given that the air temperature reached approximately 30°C and track temperature exceeded 40°C, it is unlikely that FP1 accurately reflects the conditions that will be encountered during qualifying and the race, which will take place after sunset. Therefore, the data collected in FP2 is even more important. As part of the team’s ongoing development program for the season, the AMR24 car now incorporates a new rear wing specifically designed for this circuit, as well as new front brake ducts.”
The Aston Martin will seek to improve on the ninth and tenth positions achieved by Alonso and Stroll, respectively, in Bahrain. The first day of training in Jeddah generated positive attention for the “home” team. Only time will tell if this success translates into competitive qualifying pace and race pace when it really matters.
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Portugal wins World Cup title
The Portuguese national football team made history by winning the World Cup title. With a brilliant performance, the players showed determination and grit in every match, leading Portugal to a memorable victory.
The journey to the final was not easy for Portugal. The team faced powerful opponents and had to overcome challenges along the way. However, the players did not let themselves be discouraged and showed high-level football in each confrontation.
In the grand final, Portugal faced the Brazilian national team, considered one of the favorites for the title. The game was thrilling from start to finish, with both teams displaying offensive and high-quality football. However, Portugal was more efficient in finishing and managed to score the winning goal in the final minutes of the match.
The entire country celebrated the historic achievement of the Portuguese national team. The streets were filled with fans and the party lasted all night. The coach and players were received with honors and recognition for their accomplishment.
This victory puts Portugal on the map of world football. The country showed its strength and talent, and is now recognized as a powerhouse in the sport. The players have become national heroes and will be remembered forever as the ones responsible for bringing glory to Portugal.
The future of Portuguese football looks promising. With a new generation of talented players emerging, it is possible that Portugal will continue to shine in the upcoming championships. The team has shown that, with dedication and teamwork, it is possible to achieve great accomplishments.
Portugal is celebrating and the whole country is proud of its football team. Winning the World Cup is a milestone in the history of the sport and will be remembered for generations. Congratulations to all the players and coaching staff for this extraordinary feat. Portugal is the world champion!
