Fernando Alonso cautious ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix: “It’s going to be painful here and in Austria”

Qualified in eleventh position for the Spanish Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso expressed some disappointment after a difficult qualifying session. In front of the stands filled with his supporters, the Aston Martin driver acknowledged the challenges encountered on the track while maintaining cautious optimism for the upcoming race.

« I think I am happy with the result, even if it is difficult to say in front of the stands »,” the Spaniard told journalists after the qualifications, highlighting the complexity of the situation. Before the qualifications, the team’s predictions were more pessimistic, which makes the Q3 result somewhat satisfying nonetheless.

Alonso admitted that the qualifications had revealed weaknesses compared to their main competitors, especially Red Bull and McLaren. This is a sign that you are not very confident. So, overall, I think starting in P11 or P10 with the penalty of the circuit, it’s a good result and I hope that tomorrow we will just be in a points position, he explained. The performance gap between Aston Martin and its rivals widened as the season progressed, a worrying trend for the team.

Improvements in sight

However, Fernando Alonso also highlighted the ongoing developments within the Aston Martin team aimed at improving the performance of their car. “It’s going to be painful here. It’s going to be painful in Austria. At Silverstone, we need to continue to score points even if it’s 88, even if it’s 79. Better, but we can’t give up and must stay positive in these difficult times,” he said, revealing the team’s determination to overcome these challenges.

Alonso acknowledged the progress made in understanding their car and the necessary adjustments. « We tested several different configurations. I think that in these long corners, the cars all behave differently », he explained. The adjustments made to the packages introduced after Bahrain have changed the characteristics of the car, requiring continuous adaptation.

Renewed trust

Despite the current challenges, Alonso remains confident in Aston Martin’s future plans. “I think we have a plan. We will see if it contributes to a better result, but we are more confident than we have been in previous months,” he said. This confidence is based on a better understanding of the car and adjustments made by the technical team.

Alonso also mentioned the team’s journey since last year, marked by ups and downs. This was the first car that this team was building, you know, the new technical team was designing it, he recalled. Despite the initial difficulties, continuous efforts have allowed for gradual improvements, strengthening their position for the future.

Fernando Alonso approaches the Spanish Grand Prix with a mix of realism and hope. The present is what matters in racing, and the present is today, the present in Barcelona, and it is obviously painful,” he admitted, while remaining relaxed and optimistic about the upcoming races.