Alonso reveals Aston Martin's Sunday target amid Honda power unit issues

Aston Martin has shown small but encouraging signs of progress in China so far, finishing the Sprint with both cars and with Alonso managing to qualify ahead of both Cadillac drivers.

Asked what the plan is for the race, Alonso made it clear the team will not take a Melbourne-style approach, where the Grand Prix was treated more like a test session than a proper race.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, the Spaniard was asked how he views Aston Martin’s current struggles compared to the difficult period he went through at McLaren earlier in his career. He pointed out that the situations are perceived very differently today, both by himself and by those observing from the outside.

According to Alonso, his outlook has naturally evolved over time, with greater maturity allowing him to assess things from a broader perspective. However, he also stressed that the circumstances a decade ago were often portrayed as far more dramatic than they actually were.

He also underlined how quickly narratives can shift in Formula 1, describing the championship as a sport heavily influenced by media attention and public perception. In his view, drivers can easily be placed on a pedestal when success comes, but during more challenging periods the scrutiny intensifies and every difficulty tends to be amplified.