Alonso’s Q3 hopes faded due to floor damage, while Stroll secured P13. Aston Martin now looks to the race for redemption and points.
Aston Martin F1 knew that securing a spot in Q3 would be a challenge in Melbourne. However, the team can take some comfort in the fact that their cars remained competitive within the midfield, avoiding the worst-case scenario some had feared.
Alonso Shows Promise Despite Setbacks
Fernando Alonso qualified 12th, just three-tenths behind Isack Hadjar in 11th place. While the result wasn’t ideal, there are reasons for optimism. The Spaniard suffered damage to his car’s floor in Q2, which likely affected his performance.
“I’m happy with today’s qualifying because we were close to the top 10 despite the floor damage in Q2,” Alonso explained.
“Q1 went well for us—we were comfortably inside the top 10. But in Q2, I ran wide at Turn 10, which slightly damaged the floor. Still, it’s a positive sign that we were fighting for Q3 in the first qualifying session of the season.”
Looking ahead, Alonso knows that weather could be a game-changer:
“We’ll see if the rain comes tomorrow. This track is tough in the wet due to poor visibility. We’re ready, and with a bit of luck, we can score points.”
Stroll Extracts the Maximum from His Car
Lance Stroll qualified 13th, right behind his teammate. While it’s not where the team wants to be, the Canadian believes he got the most out of his car.
“Considering everything we’ve seen this weekend, P13 is a good result for us,” he said.
“We were only a tenth or two away from advancing in Q2. It’s not ideal, but compared to the rest of the weekend, this was our most competitive session.”
Stroll is also keeping an eye on the weather for Sunday:
“If it rains, things could get interesting. Wet conditions can create opportunities, but you need confidence in the car.”
Aston Martin Aims for Points in the Race
Andy Cowell, Aston Martin’s CEO and Team Principal, admitted the team had higher hopes after a promising Q1.
“After Q1, we thought we had a shot at the top 10, but we just didn’t have enough in Q2,” he said.
“The car didn’t improve as much as we expected throughout the session, and we need to keep working on its handling.”
With potential rain on the horizon, Cowell remains optimistic:
“The forecast suggests rain, which could make for an exciting race. There’s still a lot to play for, and from P12 and P13, we have a chance to fight for points.”
Tomorrow’s race could be unpredictable, and if conditions shake up the grid, Aston Martin might just capitalize.
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Aston Martin Eyes Points After Tough Melbourne Quali Aston Martin Eyes Points After Tough Melbourne Quali
