Fernando Alonso delivered a standout performance as the sole Aston Martin to reach SQ3, securing P4 in Sprint Qualifying at the F1 Qatar GP.
The result marks Alonso’s highest starting position in what has been a troubled 2025 campaign for the Spaniard.
Alonso executed a clean and composed run through all three phases of Sprint Qualifying, making the most of a car that he said felt competitive from the start of the weekend.
Alonso finds early rhythm
Alonso’s pace was evident from the start on Friday, as he finished third in the weekend’s only free practice session. His strong form carried through into Sprint Qualifying, where he advanced to the final segment and comfortably outperformed his teammate Lance Stroll, who was knocked out in SQ1.
“Yeah, definitely,” Alonso said when asked if he was pleased with the result.
“I think, yeah, one of the best results of the year. Tough circuit, high-speed section, and yeah, the car seemed in the window already in FP1, P3, and now in qualy, it felt good as well.”
The Aston Martin driver admitted that SQ2 had been a touch more complicated due to traffic.
“There was a bit of stress in SQ2 because of traffic and things, but yeah, we made it into Q3,” he said. “And then in Q3, we put it all together.”
Experience paying off in sprint format
Alonso—who secured a podium finish for Alpine at the Lusail circuit back in 2021—suggested his vast racing experience is key to hitting the ground running during Sprint weekends.
“Yeah, I mean… 24 years’ experience, 44 years old,” he quipped. “It has some disadvantages. I get more tired with the jet lag and the travelling, but I know the tracks, I know the tyres, I know the car. I know how to track everything on Friday.”
Alonso continued: “Then on Saturday, it’s true that we can open the parc fermé. We do change the car a little bit, minor tweaks, and yeah, everyone seems to get on top of the circuit, but yeah, let’s see. Let’s go one step at a time.
“Let’s do tomorrow the sprint race, and then into qualy, let’s see if we can improve a little bit the on the understeering side today.”
