383-race F1 driver ‘lacked confidence’ after ‘mistake’ in Australian GP qualifying

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Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso has admitted that he ‘lacked confidence’ in Q3 after the two-time F1 champion made a ‘mistake’ in qualifying for the Australian GP.

The 42-year-old will only start the Melbourne race from P10 on the grid after a ‘problematic’ session. Alonso struggled to find his groove around Albert Park for the Aston Martin driver’s 19th Australian GP. He made his Formula 1 debut back at the 2001 meet driving for Minardi.

Alonso is now on Grand Prix number 383 having entered more rounds than any driver so far has. The 2024 Australian GP is also his 25th race for Aston Martin. But Alonso will need a bit of luck if the Spaniard is to take his 107th F1 podium and his ninth for the Silverstone squad.

Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso to start the Australian GP in P10

Aston Martin burst out of the gates in qualifying for the Australian GP as Alonso threatened for the top spots. His 1:16.991 lap was the fifth-fastest in Q1 and just 0.260s off pace-setter Carlos Sainz of Ferrari. He also posted a 1:16.710 in Q2 to register the sixth-fastest lap time.

But Alonso could not replicate his form in Q3 and posted the slowest time of the stage, with Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll only in P9. Alonso could only post a 1:17.552 to get P10 on the grid for the Australian GP. Stroll set a 1:17.072 in Q3 despite setting a 1:16.780 in Q2.

Fernando Alonso admits he ‘lacked confidence’ during qualifying

Alonso admits that a ‘mistake’ on the Oviedo native’s provisional Q3 run damaged the Aston Martin driver’s confidence. He took a trip through the Turn 6 gravel trap after having to turn into a kick of oversteer. The rear of his AMR24 did not settle as he sought to attack the apex.

“Everything has been more problematic in terms of rhythm and Q3 wasn’t ideal,” conceded Alonso, via quotes by AS. “I made a mistake at Turn 6 on the first attempt and went into the gravel. And, on the second attempt with new tyres, I lacked confidence. A complicated Q3.

“Before, in Q1 and Q2, it may seem better or worse depending on the new sets of tyres you use. The wind makes everything more unpredictable but we entered Q3 with both cars and that is good news – points are possible. It’s more or less what we expected.”

The Spaniard only narrowly avoided hitting the wall on the outside of Turn 7, as well, whilst trying to scrub speed. Alonso nearly replicated Alex Albon’s crash in FP1 that ultimately saw Williams withdraw Logan Sargeant from the Australian GP as they only had one chassis left.