Alonso Reflects on Unexpected Qualifying Performance at Interlagos

Fernando Alonso admitted he would have considered qualifying ahead of Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton a "pretty good qualifying" at Interlagos, a feat he achieved amidst a chaotic session where no world champions made it to Q3. Despite the surprising grid positions, Alonso remained realistic about Aston Martin's inherent pace and the challenges of the weekend.

Why it matters:

• Alonso's comments highlight the unpredictable nature of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix qualifying, where several top drivers, including Verstappen and Hamilton, struggled significantly. This unexpected shake-up in the grid offered a rare opportunity for other teams to capitalize.
• Aston Martin's consistent performance on Fridays, as noted by Alonso, suggests a strength in initial setup and track understanding, but also a challenge in adapting as competitors optimize their cars over the weekend.
• The fight for P6 in the constructors' standings between Aston Martin and Racing Bulls is heating up, making every point crucial, especially after Alonso secured points in the Sprint.

The details:

• Surprising Qualifying Order: Alonso qualified ahead of both Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, a scenario he described as a "pretty good qualifying" if predicted beforehand.
• No World Champions in Q3: For the first time in a long while, neither Verstappen nor Hamilton, both multiple world champions, made it into the top 10 shootout for pole position, with Hamilton knocked out in Q2 and Verstappen finishing P16.
• Friday Strength: Alonso noted that Aston Martin's strength consistently lies on Friday practice sessions, where they maximize their understanding of the track's nuances, having raced there for 21 years.
• Learning Curve for Competitors: He explained that as the weekend progresses, other teams "learn a little bit of the tricks for Saturday," leading Aston Martin to fall back to their "natural position" in the pecking order.
• Sprint Race Points: Alonso secured three valuable points for Aston Martin in the Sprint race, bringing them level with Racing Bulls in the battle for P6 in the constructors' championship.
• Sprint Strategy Woes: Alonso felt Aston Martin was "very unlucky" in the Sprint due to a red flag incident. Initially, he believed a P3 finish was possible on medium tires, but the red flag forced a switch to softs, allowing competitors who started on softs to learn and then excel on mediums.

What's next:

Alonso is optimistic about converting his P11 starting position for the main race into more points for Aston Martin.

• He believes that with a good start and an effective strategy, securing more points is "possible," especially given his proximity to the top 10.
• The competitive landscape suggests that consistency and capitalizing on rivals' missteps will be key for Aston Martin to secure P6 in the constructors' standings by the end of the season.
• The team will be looking to leverage any track conditions or strategic opportunities to move up the order and gain an advantage over Racing Bulls.