Fernando Alonso was all smiles after defying expectations at the Singapore Grand Prix, where he delivered a standout performance in qualifying despite Aston Martin’s known struggles at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. The veteran driver managed to secure seventh place on the grid, capitalizing on the chaotic session that saw Ferrari’s dismal qualifying and a mixed-up order.
Alonso’s Aston Martin appeared to be on the back foot throughout practice, struggling to break into the top ten. With Williams and VCARB outperforming expectations, both Aston Martins making it to Q3 seemed a tall order. But Alonso showcased his trademark resilience, dragging his car to a P7 finish, proving that the team’s efforts to mitigate their car’s weaknesses had paid off.
Alonso Reflects on Aston Martin’s Resilience: “We’re Fighting Hard”
Speaking to the media after qualifying, a relieved Alonso admitted, “We’re struggling this weekend a lot. Some of the weaknesses of the car are concentrated around the Singapore track.” The Spaniard acknowledged the team’s underwhelming pace in practice, but credited the team’s strategy and precision for their surprising Q3 appearance.
“We were P12 and P18 in FP3, didn’t look good at all,” Alonso said. “But it seems that in qualifying, we tried to put the laps together. Some others are making mistakes, and with some casualties, we ended up a little bit ahead of what the pace should be. But let’s see tomorrow, no points are given on Saturdays.”
Tyre Performance and Complex Set-Ups: Alonso Denies Blaming Tyres for Struggles
While tyre performance was a hot topic, especially after Carlos Sainz’s dramatic Q3 crash, Alonso denied that Pirelli’s rubber was behind Aston Martin’s struggles. He pointed to the complexities of modern F1 car setups, traffic management, and precise timing as the main challenges facing the team.
“It’s just so complex now,” Alonso explained. “You need to put everything together to have a good lap in qualifying. You only have a certain amount of tries because of the new tyres you have available, so if you make one mistake you put a lot of pressure on the last tyre run.”
Pushing Beyond Limits: Alonso Calls for More Support from Aston Martin’s Factory
Alonso also revealed that he has been driving within his limits to compensate for the car’s deficiencies, emphasizing the tireless work behind the scenes to improve their performance. “Right now, I am applying all the efforts to overcome a little bit the lack of pace,” he said. “A lot of work has been done between Baku and here. Yesterday we left the computer at 2 am, and we have been increasing the work to find answers.”
However, Alonso was realistic about the team’s limitations, calling for additional support from the factory to further develop the car. “We need help from the factory now in terms of development of the car, so looking forward to the next races,” Alonso concluded, hinting that while progress has been made, there is still a long road ahead for Aston Martin.
As Alonso prepares for the race, he knows that Sunday’s performance will be crucial. With track position being paramount at Singapore, the Spaniard will be keen to make the most of his P7 start, hoping to turn his qualifying heroics into valuable points and keep pushing Aston Martin up the grid.
