Alonso Sees Significant Upside in Aston Martin Despite Qualifying Struggles

Fernando Alonso expressed optimism about Aston Martin's potential following a disappointing qualifying performance at the Australian Grand Prix. Despite securing only 17th position on the grid, the veteran driver believes the car possesses considerable capabilities that can be unlocked.

Fernando Alonso has backed Aston Martin to fulfill its ambitions, pointing to substantial promise within the team's machinery despite a frustrating qualifying session at the Australian Grand Prix.

The experienced Spanish driver's comments came after he managed only a 17th-place grid position for the opening round of the season. However, rather than dwelling on the disappointing result, Alonso chose to focus on the positives he's identified within the car's performance envelope.

Speaking about the team's prospects, Alonso emphasized that Aston Martin possesses "huge potential," suggesting that the gap between current performance and the car's true capabilities represents an opportunity for improvement as the season progresses.

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Related Regulations

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sporting Regulations

Art. B2.4.1

Art. B2.4.2

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Full Regulation Text

Sporting Regulations

Article B2.4.1

FIA Source

Race Qualifying Session

Chapter: B2

In Simple Terms

Qualifying is the session where drivers compete to determine their starting positions for the race. It normally happens on the second day of a Grand Prix weekend, either 2-3 hours after the final practice session (FP3) or 3-4 hours after the Sprint race, depending on the event format.

Qualifying determines the race grid order - your position in qualifying decides where you start the race
Standard format: held on day two, 2-3 hours after FP3 (free practice 3)
Alternative format: held on day two, 3-4 hours after Sprint race
Timing varies based on whether the weekend includes a Sprint race or follows the traditional format

Official FIA Text

Qualifying determines Race starting grid. Standard Format: second day, 2-3 hours after FP3. Alternative Format: second day, 3-4 hours after Sprint.

qualifyinggrid positionstarting gridqualifying sessionf1 qualifying

2026 Season Regulations

Sporting Regulations

Article B2.4.2

FIA Source

Race Qualifying Format

Chapter: B2

In Simple Terms

In Q1, drivers have 18 minutes to set their fastest lap. The 5 slowest cars are knocked out and won't advance to Q2. Importantly, all lap times are erased when Q1 ends, so drivers must re-establish their fastest times in the next qualifying session.