Aston Martin F1 began the 2025 Formula 1 São Paulo GP weekend in encouraging fashion, as both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll qualified inside the top 10 for Saturday’s Sprint race at Interlagos.
After a difficult weekend in Mexico, the team showed renewed pace and balance in Brazil. Alonso showed strong form by finishing fourth in the weekend’s only Free Practice session before securing fifth in Sprint Qualifying. Meanwhile, Stroll recovered from 15th in Free Practice to take seventh on the grid, underlining Aston Martin’s steady improvement throughout the day.
With both drivers satisfied with the car’s handling and overall performance, Aston Martin head into the Sprint with growing confidence and the potential to score valuable points.
Alonso encouraged by competitive Friday
Speaking to the official F1 channel after Sprint Qualifying, Fernando Alonso reflected on what had allowed Aston Martin to deliver such a strong performance at Interlagos. The Spaniard expressed clear satisfaction with the AMR25’s performance, describing the car as immediately competitive and well-balanced from the outset of the weekend.
He also noted that the single Free Practice session used during Sprint weekends places a premium on preparation and precision. According to Alonso, finding the right setup early can make a decisive difference over such a condensed schedule.
“Yeah, I don’t know. Car felt good in FP1. We were P4, now we are P5. So definitely it seems that we started the weekend in the window of the operation of the car. And then, yeah, with only one Free Practise, obviously, if you start with the right foot, then everything becomes easier. So, yeah, let’s see tomorrow.”
When asked whether Aston Martin could hold position or challenge further up the order, Alonso remained cautious yet optimistic, acknowledging that weather conditions could prove decisive in Saturday’s Sprint Race in São Paulo.
“I don’t know. If it was dry, maybe it was probably easier to hold the positions. But we expect a wet Saturday. So, yeah, anything can happen tomorrow.”
Regardless of what the rest of the weekend brings, Alonso views Aston Martin’s Friday performance as a significant step forward. Calling it “a good boost” for the team, he praised the collective effort and determination to finish the 2025 season strongly.
“Sure, sure. I think today is a good boost for everyone. We are not giving up and let’s keep trying every day.”
Stroll cautious ahead of Sprint
Lance Stroll also enjoyed a productive Friday, building confidence throughout the day and ultimately joining Alonso inside the top 10. The Canadian’s seventh place in Sprint Qualifying marked a return to competitive form after several challenging weekends.
Reflecting on his performance, Stroll highlighted the car’s positive behaviour, which enabled his strong Sprint Qualifying result at the São Paulo GP.
“The car was feeling good and so nice laps, so I enjoyed it.”
However, when asked whether things had come together better in Brazil than in the previous round in Mexico City, Stroll maintained a measured perspective, reminding that Sprint Qualifying is only the first step of a busy weekend.
“We’ll see. I don’t know. I mean, it’s still just a Sprint Qualifying. So we’ll see tomorrow.”
Despite his reserved tone, Stroll’s strong Sprint Qualifying run puts him in an excellent position to target points in Saturday’s Sprint, particularly if changing weather conditions create opportunities. Asked whether he felt capable of maintaining or improving his position, Stroll remained pragmatic but open-minded.
“That’s the plan. Maybe some rain, though. I don’t know. We’ll see what happens.”
With Alonso starting P5 and Stroll P7, Aston Martin enter Saturday’s Sprint in one of their strongest positions of the season. The team’s double top-10 result provides a platform to challenge for crucial points. However, as both drivers emphasised, the São Paulo weather could throw everything into uncertainty.
