Fernando Alonso Faces ‘Painful’ Spanish GP as Aston Martin Struggles; Qualifies Behind Former Alpine Team

Fernando Alonso anticipates a challenging race at the F1 Spanish Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso responds to qualifying behind both Alpine cars

Fernando Alonso asserts that Aston Martin is going through "difficult periods" following an underwhelming qualifying performance at his home Grand Prix.

Alonso secured the 11th spot in the qualifying round for the F1 Spanish Grand Prix, but he will begin the race from 10th place due to Sergio Perez receiving a grid penalty.

Aston Martin had a tough day, with teammate Lance Stroll finishing in 14th place.

It is worth mentioning that both Alpine cars secured qualifying positions ahead of both Aston Martin cars.

When questioned about whether seeing his previous team in the lead caused concern, Alonso replied, "No, I believe we were aware of it."

"Alpine led us in Monaco, was nearly equal to us in Canada, and now they are just slightly ahead here, which suggests they are improving while we might be declining."

"Mixing the two isn't ideal. However, I believe we often have strategies in development that will steer us back on track."

"It's going to be tough here, it's going to be tough in Austria, and at Silverstone."

"We need to keep earning points, whether it's for eighth place, seventh place, ninth place, or any other position. We must remain resilient and maintain a positive attitude during these challenging times."

Aston Martin emerged as the standout team at the beginning of the last season, highlighted by Alonso securing a podium finish in Bahrain.

However, Ferrari, McLaren, and more recently Mercedes have emerged as the primary competitors to Red Bull.

Alonso was questioned about when Aston Martin’s struggles might cease: “I hope it will be before the summer break. However, the team has a good grasp of what has been successful and what has failed.

"Not just this year, but also in the latter half of last year and throughout this year, I believe all the teams are pushing the boundaries further with their development."

"The vehicles are more challenging to operate, but we have now grasped some concepts that will enhance their performance."

Alonso described his Saturday in Barcelona, saying, "We were aware that the competition would be very close on this kind of track."

"The competition in Austria will be intense; if you're clocking 1:04s, the margins will be even narrower. So, while it's tough to admit in front of the home crowd, I'm actually pleased with the outcome."

"However, prior to the qualifying round, our forecasts were somewhat less optimistic. In fact, we decided to use three sets of tires for one car in Q1, which indicates a lack of confidence."

"Overall, beginning in P10 due to Checo’s penalty is a solid outcome, and hopefully tomorrow we'll be just one spot short of earning points. Let's wait and see."

Will Alonso alter his configuration for the race on Sunday?

“We’ve experimented with various configurations, and each car reacts uniquely to the extended turns.

"Our car's performance in Bahrain was quite distinct. However, after implementing the initial modifications, we adjusted the car's characteristics slightly to better manage the setup."

“We continue to learn increasingly, but each time we grasp one concept, a new challenge arises, resetting our progress."

"As I mentioned earlier, we believe we have a strategy in place. Let's determine if it leads to improved outcomes, but we are feeling more assured than we have in recent months."

"I believe it's about gaining a better grasp of the car. We shouldn't overlook that last year marked the debut vehicle designed by this new technical team."

"We've been working on enhancing the car's performance. Occasionally, our efforts didn't yield significant improvements and actually made the car somewhat more challenging to handle."

"They have collaborated for eighteen months, and their progress continues to excel, securing a strong outlook for the future."

"I’m quite calm, but what’s important in racing is the present moment. Today, that moment is in Barcelona, and it’s clearly disappointing. Despite that, I remain calm about our performance."

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