Fernando Alonso Praises Aston Martin's 'Phenomenal' Performance in Brazil

After a challenging weekend in Mexico City, Aston Martin found some redemption in Brazil with Fernando Alonso finishing 12th at Interlagos. Though he narrowly missed out on points, Alonso was buoyant about the car's performance, calling it 'phenomenal' in the corners. The Spaniard, known for his prowess in tricky conditions, managed to qualify inside the top 10 for the first time this season, showcasing the car's capabilities in the wet.

Despite not scoring any points, Alonso's drive was a marked improvement and a positive response to the team's double retirement in Mexico due to power unit issues. He managed to outpace both Alpines, Williams, and Haas cars, underscoring the progress Aston Martin has made. "I think it was the best race for the car feeling today," Alonso remarked. "We were battling with the Ferraris and even mixed it up with the Mercedes towards the end, despite being a lap down."

Alonso's tongue-in-cheek comment about being 'one second faster' per lap highlighted the car's newfound speed, albeit with a hint of exaggeration. Nonetheless, the AMR26 was evidently quicker than it has been for much of the season.

On the other side of the garage, Lance Stroll's race ended prematurely with an ERS issue, marking his eighth DNF in the last 10 races. Aston Martin's Chief Trackside Officer, Mike Krack, remained optimistic, highlighting the team's overall strong performance in Sao Paulo. "Mixed fortunes for us today," Krack said. "Fernando's strong drive to P12 and Lance's unfortunate retirement due to a battery issue didn't overshadow our performance ahead of faster competitors in both qualifying and the race."

The weekend in Brazil provided a boost for Aston Martin, who continue to sit 10th in the standings, trailing Williams by five points. While Alonso last scored points in Malaysia, the team's pace in Brazil suggests they are heading in the right direction, even if reliability remains a challenge.