Alonso makes 'phenomenal' Aston Martin claim after battling F1 giants

Alonso enjoyed his strongest qualifying session of the season at Interlagos, reaching Q3 for the first time in 2026 and securing ninth place before moving up to eighth on the grid. One of the highlights of his afternoon was a spectacular overtake around the outside of Lewis Hamilton, as he briefly got the better of his former McLaren teammate.

However, the Spaniard was unable to convert that promising starting position into points, eventually finishing 12th in a race affected by changing weather conditions. Despite the disappointing result, he was encouraged by Aston Martin's pace, particularly through the corners.

Speaking to the media after the race, Alonso explained that the car performed better than expected, allowing him to compete with some of the leading teams despite its limitations.

"It was better in the rain, for sure, better than the dry. But all in all, I think the pace was quite okay, and it was a good surprise. The car was performing well throughout the race," Alonso explained.

However, the two-time world champion admitted that Aston Martin's lack of straight-line speed remained a significant disadvantage, making its performance in the corners even more encouraging.

Despite the encouraging race pace, Alonso acknowledged that Aston Martin struggled to find the right balance earlier in the weekend, with the car proving less competitive during practice.

"I think all in all, it was a better race than the weekend. I think in free practice, we were not super happy with the car, but in the race, it was a little bit in a better window," he explained.

Asked whether the improvements could carry over into the final three races of the season or were simply a consequence of the conditions at Interlagos, Alonso suggested that Aston Martin already has a clear understanding of its limitations.