Fernando Alonso, the seasoned Formula 1 veteran, expressed his disappointment over Aston Martin’s performance in the Singapore Grand Prix qualifying, where he secured the seventh position. Aston Martin, once a strong contender challenging Red Bull, has experienced a dip in form in recent races, leaving opportunities on the table.
A Chance for Aston Martin
In a surprising turn of events, Red Bull faced a setback with both Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen failing to make it past Q2. This opened a window of opportunity for Aston Martin to secure a more advantageous starting position and potentially accumulate valuable championship points.
A Struggle for Alonso
However, despite the promising circumstances, Fernando Alonso found it challenging to bridge the gap to the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari. The car’s performance improvements were modest at best, resulting in a seventh-place finish.
Alonso commented on the team’s efforts, saying, “It was tricky for us the whole day, FP3 we were not competitive and then in qualifying we made some setup changes. The car did improve, but only for P7.”
The Frustration of Missed Opportunities
For a team that had shown strength on street circuits throughout the season, including Alonso’s near pole position in Monaco, the Singapore Grand Prix was a tough pill to swallow. The team found themselves searching for answers to their performance woes, with Lance Stroll’s challenging qualifying session culminating in a concerning crash at the end of Q1.
Alonso reflected on the weekend, stating, “Coming into the weekend, we thought that Singapore could fit our package and our car. But after FP1, FP2, FP3, I think we went into qualifying knowing that Q3 was maybe already a difficult task to be in the top 10.”
Despite the setbacks, Alonso delivered a strong lap in Q3, showcasing his skill and determination. However, the missed opportunities weighed heavily on the team’s shoulders.
