Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 team driver, expressed concern about the team’s race pace at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Despite his surprise at qualifying in fourth place, Alonso is worried about the team’s ability to score significant points in the race. He acknowledged that the car performed better than expected in qualifying but faced difficulties in the race in Bahrain. Alonso admitted that Aston Martin’s long-run pace has been a challenge and they have been working on adjustments to improve it. He expects a stronger race in Saudi Arabia compared to Bahrain.
Alonso is optimistic that the team’s setup adjustments will improve their performance, but believes that qualifying conditions once again hid their weaknesses. When asked about his confidence in the changes aimed at improving race pace, Alonso responded positively. He acknowledged that the new tires sometimes mask the true performance of the cars and that maximum tire grip provides an extra advantage. He emphasized the importance of tire preparation and out laps, stating that these factors may be more crucial than the car’s performance. However, in the race, there is no hiding, and teams gradually return to their natural positions. Alonso recognized that there is still work to be done to reach the top four teams, but expressed hope to start ahead of them and defend his position.
Aston Martin showed consistency in sectors one and two of the track, but faced difficulties in the high-speed third sector, where straight-line speed was crucial. Alonso seemed to have found a solution to this issue when he took advantage of Lewis Hamilton’s full lap to get a tow on the main straight before his final lap in Q3. However, Alonso clarified that this was just a coincidence. He explained that he had to make a decision between negotiating the final corner and potentially obstructing Hamilton or letting him pass. He chose to take the tow, but his tires were not properly warmed up for Turn 1 and Turn 2, resulting in a loss of half a second. Although he gained a tenth of a second with the tow, the lack of tire preparation in the first two corners affected his overall performance during the flying lap.
