Fernando Alonso endured a turbulent Australian GP, retiring from the race after crashing at Turn 6 in worsening conditions. Despite the setback, the two-time world champion remains pragmatic about Aston Martin’s potential, analysing his team’s performance and looking ahead to the Chinese GP.
Assessing Aston Martin’s performance
Reflecting on the race in Melbourne, Alonso admitted it was difficult to gauge Aston Martin’s outright competitiveness.
“Yeah, difficult to know exactly. I think qualifying was OK for us. I think until the damage in Q2, we were competitive. But then in the race, I think it was difficult to judge the performance of the cars,” Alonso explained. “We just followed the car in front more or less, took care of the tyre, waiting for the dry track to come.”
While Aston Martin’s qualifying pace showed promise, the unpredictable nature of the race prevented a true assessment of their race performance. Alonso remains cautious, believing it will take a few more races to understand the AMR24’s strengths and weaknesses.
“I think we have to wait a few races, different track layouts – Suzuka as well, Bahrain with the slow-speed corners. So I think after four or five races, we will have a better idea.”
Tyre management and race strategy
Tyre degradation was a key talking point from the Australian GP, with McLaren emerging as the strongest team while Red Bull appeared to struggle slightly in race trim. When asked if he had gained any insights into his car’s tyre performance, Alonso remained measured.
“I don’t know. That we had a little bit more pace than the cars in front, probably, but it was very difficult to overtake. It was only one very narrow racing line to be able to overtake,” he said. “And yeah, the tyre deg was big, but when you follow cars, it’s always big.”
Alonso acknowledged that his team’s race pace may have been slightly stronger than their direct competitors, but track conditions and a lack of overtaking opportunities hindered any real progress. However, he took positives from the weekend, particularly the strong performance of his teammate, Lance Stroll, who secured crucial points for the team.
“It was an interesting first race. Pace in qualifying was maybe better than expected – better than what we saw in Bahrain. The race was tricky, it was difficult for everyone, but the outcome was eight points for the team thanks to a very good race from Lance. All in all, it was a good first race for us.”
Alonso’s expectations for the Chinese GP
As Formula 1 returns to the Chinese GP, Alonso is realistic about his chances but remains optimistic about fighting for points. Last season, he excelled in qualifying at the Shanghai International Circuit, and while repeating that result may be difficult, he is determined to put in a strong performance.
“I don’t know. I think we started a little bit stronger last year, especially in quali, so it’s definitely going to be a bit more difficult,” Alonso admitted. “We were P3 in wet and P3 in dry with the two qualifyings here. I think it’s going to be a challenge to repeat that kind of result, but we will try our best and try to score the first points for me of the year.”
Despite his DNF in Australia, Alonso remains eager to get back on track and tackle one of his favourite circuits.
“Looking forward to it – this is one of the best layouts of the year, one of the best race tracks for us as drivers in the championship. So yeah, looking forward.”
Praise for Gabriel Bortoleto
Alongside discussing his weekend, Alonso also took a moment to praise F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto. The Brazilian made his F1 debut in Melbourne, and despite the tricky conditions, Alonso was highly impressed.
“Very impressive, very good, but no surprises. He’s the best of the new generation – together with Ollie!” Alonso said, also acknowledging Haas rookie Oliver Bearman.
“He worked really hard all winter long, and I think Melbourne is not the easiest track to make your debut. The race especially was super tricky for everybody, so it was a hard test, but it was very impressive – the first of many.”
While his Australian GP ended in disappointment, Alonso remains optimistic. With more races needed to fully understand Aston Martin’s performance, the Chinese GP presents an opportunity for Alonso to regroup and fight for points.
