Fernando Alonso believes Aston Martin still has strong potential this season despite a disappointing qualifying result at the Australian Grand Prix. The veteran driver finished 17th on the grid in Melbourne, but says improved running during practice sessions revealed promising pace in the car.
Progress despite difficult start
Fernando Alonso was 2.5 seconds off the pace in the opening phase of qualifying at the Australian Grand Prix. However, that deficit was significantly smaller than during Friday’s practice sessions.
The improvement came after the Aston Martin F1 Team finally managed to complete a consistent series of laps. Earlier running had been disrupted by ongoing reliability issues with the Honda power unit.
Alonso explained that simply being able to stay on track allowed the team to experiment with car setup and make rapid gains. Despite the disappointing grid position, he believes the car has the potential to compete much closer to the top 10 once reliability improves.
Reliability concerns remain
The team continues to face serious reliability challenges with the hybrid power system. Aston Martin currently has only two batteries available for the race weekend, with no additional units immediately available from Honda.
This shortage means the team may have to manage the car carefully during the race to avoid damage that could jeopardise participation in the next round of the championship in China.
Alonso admitted the situation is difficult but praised the mechanics for their relentless work over the past weeks to replace engines and fix technical issues.
Team morale under pressure
Alonso also highlighted the importance of maintaining team morale during a challenging start to the season. On the other side of the garage, team-mate Lance Stroll was unable to complete any laps on Saturday due to engine problems and will start last on the grid.
The Spanish driver said that staying competitive on track, even if only in the midfield, can help motivate the team as they work to solve the reliability problems.
With limited spare parts and another race approaching quickly, Aston Martin will need to balance pushing for performance with preserving equipment during Sunday’s race in Melbourne.
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