Former F1 champion’s Bahrain Grand Prix performance labeled as “agonizing” by ex-driver
Fernando Alonso’s recent struggles at the Bahrain Grand Prix have not gone unnoticed, with one former Formula 1 star describing his performance as “agonizing.” The Aston Martin driver faced a tough weekend in Sakhir, finishing in 15th place during the race after a disappointing qualifying session where he failed to advance from Q2.
This marks the fourth consecutive race in which Alonso has failed to secure a single point, painting a bleak picture of his start to the season. Former McLaren driver Pedro de la Rosa, who now serves as an ambassador for Aston Martin, expressed his dismay at seeing his fellow Spaniard grapple with such difficulties on the track. “It was painful to see the drivers [Alonso and Lance Stroll] fighting like this and losing so many positions,” de la Rosa commented.
Despite the challenges, de la Rosa commended Alonso for his efforts to extract the maximum potential from the car and remains hopeful for an improved showing at the upcoming Saudi Arabia Grand Prix. Reflecting on Alonso’s qualifying performance, de la Rosa noted, “Fernando puts the car where it shouldn’t be.” However, he acknowledged the limitations of the car’s performance on certain types of circuits and emphasized the need for enhancements, particularly in handling slow corners.
As Alonso continues to seek his first points of the 2025 season, Aston Martin faces an uphill battle to match or surpass their fifth-place finish in the constructors’ standings from the previous season. Looking ahead, the team’s focus appears to be on the 2026 season, with hopes pinned on design guru Adrian Newey’s potential impact.
The pressure is mounting for Alonso to turn his season around, with fans eagerly anticipating whether he can deliver a stronger performance in the races to come.
