Key Highlights:
- Fernando Alonso secured a season-first top-10 qualifying spot and finished 12th in Brazil after rebounding from Aston Martin’s double DNF in Mexico City.
- Alonso praised the handling of his AMR26, highlighting on-track battles with front-runners including an on-merit overtake on Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari.
- While Lance Stroll suffered his eighth DNF in 10 races due to an ERS battery issue, Aston Martin remains 10th in the championship standings, trailing Williams by five points.
Aston Martin Shows Resurgent Pace at Interlagos
Following a bruising outing in Mexico City, Aston Martin staged an encouraging recovery at the São Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil, where Fernando Alonso crossed the line in 12th position at Interlagos. The two-time World Champion narrowly missed out on world championship points, yet the weekend represented one of the British outfit’s most competitive showings of the season. Navigating challenging wet conditions during Saturday’s qualifying session, Alonso leveraged his extensive experience to steer his car into the top 10 on the grid for the first time this year.
During the opening stint of Sunday’s Grand Prix, Alonso preserved track position near the front of the field, showcasing race pace that allowed him to go wheel-to-wheel with regular front-runners. In an impressive display of the car’s cornering performance, the Spanish veteran executed an on-merit overtake against Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari. Although he gradually lost ground over the duration of the Grand Prix, Alonso remained competitive enough to beat both Alpine entries, both Williams cars, and both Haas machines across the finish line.
“I think it was the best race for the car feeling today,”
“The car was phenomenal in the corners and we were battling with the Ferraris at one point.
“Even the last five laps on the inters, we were in the mix with the two Mercedes, one lap down, but with the Mercedes. Taking into account how much we lose on the straights, that means probably today we could have been maybe one second faster than them per lap. As I said the car was phenomenal.”
Contrasting Fortunes in the Aston Martin Garage
While the pace of the AMR26 showed clear progress relative to previous rounds, garage parity eluded the squad once again. Lance Stroll was unable to reach the checkered flag at Interlagos, forced into retirement by an Energy Recovery System (ERS) battery problem. The premature exit marked Stroll’s eighth non-finish in the last 10 Grands Prix, emphasizing the persistent reliability concerns that have hindered the Silverstone-based team despite recent aerodynamic steps forward.
Despite the setback on Stroll’s side of the garage, Aston Martin Chief Trackside Officer Mike Krack remained positive when assessing the collective progress achieved in São Paulo compared to Mexico City, where power unit failures had forced an early double retirement.
“Mixed fortunes for us today,”
“A strong drive from Fernando to finish P12 and Lance unfortunately retiring with a battery issue.
“Overall we must be satisfied with the outcome of the weekend as we were ahead of competitors with faster cars in Qualifying and race.”
“We always look forward to racing here in Sao Paulo – an iconic track with a passionate crowd – so it was great to deliver a strong performance in front of the Brazilian fans.”
Why This Matters
Aston Martin currently occupies 10th position in the Constructors’ Championship standings, sitting five points behind Williams. With Alonso having last scored championship points in Malaysia, the pace exhibited at Interlagos signals that the team is discovering effective mechanical and aerodynamic balance through twisty cornering complexes, even while straight-line speed deficits persist. However, with Stroll’s chronic mechanical retirements and the unresolved vulnerabilities within the hybrid powertrain components, overcoming their five-point deficit before the season concludes will require Aston Martin to marry their improved handling with ironclad reliability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did Fernando Alonso finish at the São Paulo Grand Prix?
Fernando Alonso finished the race in 12th position, narrowly missing out on points despite qualifying in the top 10 for the first time this season.
Why did Lance Stroll fail to finish the race in Brazil?
Lance Stroll retired from the Grand Prix due to an ERS battery issue, marking his eighth DNF over the course of the last 10 races.
What is Aston Martin’s standing in the championship after Brazil?
Aston Martin sits in 10th place in the Constructors’ Championship, trailing Williams by five points.
