Fernando Alonso

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso continued his stellar run of form by qualifying fourth for the 2023 Australian Grand Prix next to former team mate and rival ...

Our strength is I think the long run pace so we start in the first two rows of the grid and our strengths are on Sundays – let’s use it," he said. Maybe there was a bit more lap time in it but it’s really tight if you look at the times," he said. We were 0.6 [seconds off pole] in Bahrain, 0.5 in Jeddah and here 0.4 [seconds] from pole position, so I think we have to be happy and let’s see tomorrow what we can do," he said. And then in Q3, [by] a couple of hundredths we missed the first row of the grid. Obviously, yeah, it was very tight, within one or two-tenths there were a lot of cars and we were on the upper part of that group in Q1 and Q2 – I think I was P2. [READ MORE: Verstappen claims first ever Melbourne pole as Russell bags front row start](https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.verstappen-claims-first-ever-melbourne-pole-as-russell-bags-front-row-start.3IxM1nwxybesiW95o5C1sE.html)

Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin seem to be continuing their outstanding start to the F1 2023 season as the Spaniard qualified a fantastic fourth in the ...

Last year, Aston Martin only managed to finish seventh in the Constructors’ Championship with 55 points. And in Australia, the Spaniard was just over 0.4 seconds slower than pole-sitter Verstappen. Consequently of Alonso’s outstanding form, Aston Martin has also had an astounding start to the new campaign. After yet another brilliant start to another weekend, Alonso labelled his Australian GP qualifying performance as the best of the season so far. The Spaniard seems in a far better mental space, having previously experienced multiple years of frustration with McLaren. The Spaniard’s lap time was just over 0.4 seconds slower than pole-sitter Max Verstappen’s lap time.

Fernando Alonso continued his excellent form in Formula 1, securing the fourth position for the 2023 Australian Grand Prix alongside Lewis Hamilton, ...

"The Mercedes did a very good job, so still probably the best qualifying of the three [races] for us. And then in Q3, [by] a couple of hundredths we missed the first row of the grid." However, the Spaniard was delighted with his and the team's progress in Australia.

Mercedes' George Russell at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Jeddah, March 2023. Fernando Alonso has accused Mercedes of exaggerating when it comes to performance ...

“They did last year and they won a race after a very bad start, so I think this year they are also showing the potential they have.” And Alonso – who felt Australia was Aston Martin’s “best” qualifying session of the season so far – believes the team are merely exaggerating their current woes, suggesting it is merely a matter of time before Hamilton and Russell are competing for victories again. Fernando Alonso has accused Mercedes of exaggerating when it comes to performance of the W14, claiming the team’s complaints make it sound as though they are struggling for a place in Formula 1’s top 10.

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were thrilled with their results in a good qualifying session for Mercedes, which prompted a snarky comment from Fernando ...

In a rare double interview in the TV pen, the [Ferrari](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/ferrari-f1) driver backed up Alonso's view and suggested that the Mercedes cars are actually a lot more competitive than the team makes out. But [the Mexican beached his car in the gravel in Q1](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/breaking-sergio-perez-qualifying-australia-29603985), while the Spaniard was bested by both Hamilton and Russell. [Fernando Alonso](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/fernando-alonso) couldn't resist having a pop at [Lewis Hamilton](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/lewis-hamilton) and [George Russell](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/george-russell) after being beaten by both Brits in [Australian Grand Prix](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/australian-grand-prix) qualifying. "We hope tomorrow we can give them a bit of a run for their money, and hope the weather is good. But I'm not disappointed – I'm super grateful for this position and I'm going to work as hard as I can to move forward tomorrow." We're all working as hard as we can to get right back up the front so to be this close to the Red Bull is honestly incredible. Sainz said: "They're a lot faster than people think and especially in the race. They had a pace very close to Fernando in Jeddah and they were both going flat out. I did get a little bit further ahead in the last sector but ultimately I lost out a little bit in the beginning. [Mercedes](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/mercedes-f1) have endured a tough start to the season and were not as competitive as they would have liked in Bahrain or Saudi Arabia. If you read their comments it seems like they have a car that is out of Q3, but it is a fast car." The Spaniard thinks it is evidence that the Silver Arrows have been over-dramatising their car struggles in public.

Alonso and Hamilton as team-mates was a recipe for disaster in the one year they spent together at McLaren, but the Spaniard would like to give it another ...

Alonso added: "We had a difficult season, but we respected what the other was doing on track and still do. The Spaniard was also in his first year with the team, but had joined from [Renault](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/renault) where he had just won back-to-back titles and established himself as the man to beat on the grid. "I couldn't continue with McLaren. We were immature. We were young. But you learn in a career." He went on to declare that he is more than happy to put past differences aside if such a situation were to arise. Hamilton and Alonso are desperate for one last taste of F1 glory before they call time on their trophy-laden careers. Not that Hamilton shied away from the challenge. I'd love that." He is partnered by [Mercedes](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/mercedes-f1) have gone off the boil since the new car regulations came into force at the start of last season and [Aston Martin](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/aston-martin-f1) have emerged as a front-runner at the perfect time, as far as the Spaniard is concerned.

Fernando Alonso was furious over the radio after a dramatic end to the Australian Grand Prix forced the Aston Martin star to retire from the race.

At one stage, it looked as if Aston Martin's race had been completely wrecked after the carnage that followed the restart, with five cars potentially facing retirement. [Fernando Alonso](/latest/fernando-alonso) blasted F1's "stupid rule" that nearly cost him a podium finish at the Australian Grand Prix after a dramatic red flag restart saw the Aston Martin star involved in a crash. "Stupid rule," Alonso said.

The Spanish driver's spot on the podium was thrown up into the air when the race was restarted and Carlos Sainz collided with him putting Alonso to the back of ...

Two laps with the three most legendary drivers of the current F1 in front, was too much for the new F1 that, to the surprise of the drivers, has decided to ...

Unfortunately for Carlos, the touch with Fernando cost him a five-second penalty at the end of the race, leaving him out of the large collection of points he had as the race ended after the safety car and he had no chance to gain time. And so it was, the race was restarted with the same positions, ensuring the podium for the Spaniard and fourth for Carlos. Two laps with the three most legendary drivers of the current F1 in front, was too much for the new F1 that, to the surprise of the drivers, has decided to revive Abu Dhabi 2021 and make a two-lap race between

Carlos Sainz pleaded with his race engineer to ask the FIA to wait to hear his side of the story on his tangle with Fernando Alonso.

I think it’s too unfair and I don’t feel well to speak.” “Ask them please, please, please, please, please, to wait and discuss with me, clearly the penalty is not deserved, it’s too severe.” While the positions in the field were reset, meaning Alonso would take the rolling restart to cross the line ahead of Sainz in third, the Ferrari driver was hit with a five-second penalty as he crossed the line for causing a collision.

Mercedes driver “enjoyed” Australian Grand Prix battle with fellow veteran.

“The battle’s really with Fernando right now. I enjoyed racing with him. “Until we pick up speed on the straight and have the crazy downforce they have through the corners, that’s how it’s going to continue.

Fernando Alonso has ripped into the FIA rule which dictates how the grid shapes up after a red flag is waved.

The original re-start positions, however, were reinstated and Alonso took his third podium in as many races at the start of the 2023 season. [George Russell](https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-drivers/george-russell/) rear-ended Zhou Guanyu at the first corner, and a huge grid re-alignment meant that a number of drivers’ overtakes were erased – much to the dismay of many. [Ferrari](https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-teams/scuderia-ferrari/) of [Carlos Sainz](https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-drivers/carlos-sainz/) when the Australian Grand Prix restarted with two laps remaining, and subsequently dropped from third place to P11.

The Spaniard found himself in the thick of the action at a rather barmy second restart of the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park. An earlier crash for Alex ...

Alonso then believes that he is a “very attractive” target to aim for these days, as on top of that Sainz collision, he also felt a tap on the opening lap at Turn 3, which looked to also have been Stroll’s doing. Fortunately for Alonso he was P3 in the order, as Race Control had ordered the restart to take place with cars in their positions at the previous one, meaning it was a third P3 in as many races to start the F1 2023 campaign for Alonso. And as the drivers darted for Turn 1 from a third standing start of the afternoon, Alonso would be sent spinning as he received a hit from his compatriot Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari.

Carlos Sainz pleaded with his race engineer to ask the FIA to wait to hear his side of the story on his tangle with Fernando Alonso.

Carlos Sainz has hit out at the FIA after he was handed a five-second time penalty for a crash with Fernando Alonso at the Australian Grand Prix, ...

"It is the worst start to a season ever." "Lance had to break pretty early because of Fernando in front and so I went for the gap and unfortunately there was no gap at the end because Lance found himself between Fernando and myself. With two DNFs and a seventh place finish to his name in this season, Leclerc has branded 2023 his "worst start" to a season ever. Carlos Sainz has hit out at the FIA after he was handed a five-second time penalty for a crash with Fernando Alonso at the Australian Grand Prix, calling it the "most unfair penalty" he has seen in his life. "It is the most unfair penalty I have seen in my life. Sainz was penalised for the incident, with stewards deciding that he was "wholly to blame for the collision", and was given a five-second penalty which saw him relegated to last of the 12 cars that finished, leaving Ferrari pointless after Charles Leclerc's first-lap retirement.

Fernando Alonso took the final place in an all-world champions top three in Melbourne, with the Spaniard taking the chequered flag in third place at ...

As I said, P3, P4 for the team is just an amazing Sunday.” “But the race itself, it was good for us in terms of pace. let’s go for a second place at least!” The last half an hour was difficult to understand what was going on. [Alex Albon's crash](https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.must-see-williams-alex-albon-crashes-out-of-promising-sixth-place-in-the.5pU9MTNZpMNFyvIm9m35Z1.html) turned into a red flag, Sainz and leader George Russell having pitted before the stoppage to promote Alonso up to third. Many things going on at the beginning, but then also at the end.

F1 fans went wild after Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin racing suit had a dark patch that looked like he had peed himself.

Even though Fernando Alonso was the person hit by Carlos Sainz, he feels the penalty given to the Ferrari driver was too severe.

The FIA wrote in their verdict that Sainz was “wholly to blame” for the incident at the end of the race, with the Spaniard complaining over team radio that the stewards had not allowed him to get his point across to them in person before making a decision over a punishment. The race was red-flagged again after both Alpine drivers ended up in the wall and Nyck de Vries and Logan Sargeant had made contact, but with one lap to go, the decision was made to have a rolling restart under yellow flag conditions, putting the cars back to their grid restart positions – which will have appeased the Aston Martin driver, as it placed him on the podium. Fernando Alonso has criticised the FIA stewards for their five-second penalty given to Carlos Sainz at the end of the Australian Grand Prix, calling it “too harsh” – despite being on the receiving end of contact from the Ferrari driver.

Fernando Alonso was caught up in the chaotic final stages of the Australian Grand Prix but still came away with a podium.

Uncertainty reigned as the drivers returned to the pits. Alonso started in third place but was spun around by Sainz in the first corner dropping him to 11th position. [Fernando Alonso](/latest/fernando-alonso) claimed third place and a podium in the Australian Grand Prix despite being falling to 11th on the second last lap of the race.

Fernando Alonso made it three podiums out of three races at the Australian Grand Prix as the Aston Martin driver ended up on the right side of Formula One ...

to just see the chequered flag in P3. The last half an hour was difficult to understand what was going on. Register for free to Reuters and know the full story

Fernando Alonso made a tongue-in-cheek joke at Sergio Perez's expense as he weighed up the pecking order of the top cars in Melbourne.

So we take every opportunity, and we need to learn, and we need to grow as a team also, maybe now off-track, because we are racing against Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari – teams that are used to this kind of pace of development and things like that. “We never expected to be on the podium, maybe even throughout the season. In the first three races away from Europe, it is difficult to bring upgrades and things like that. We are just on a learning process, so we take this 2023 in a very humble manner and let’s see how it goes.” However, for the first time in 2023, a car other than a Red Bull finished ahead of Alonso with Hamilton coming home in second. “But no, I think Mercedes were also strong in Jeddah, to be honest.

The Spaniard found himself in the thick of the action at a rather barmy second restart of the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park. An earlier crash for Alex ...

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso hilariously urged Max Verstappen to finish his post-race press conference answers quickly.

In the process, he increased his points tally to 69 out of a maximum of 78. When it comes to the Constructors’ Championship, Red Bull are in a league of their own. Perez, who fought his way from the back of the grid to fifth, now only has a nine-point advantage over third-placed Fernando Alonso. Since the stewards decided to restart the race in the same order as the second restart, Alonso was handed back his third place. (Do) You need to go?” The 25-year-old then completed the response to the question he was asked by hilariously saying that they will now talk in Baku, where the next race will take place. While Max Verstappen was answering questions during the presser, the Spaniard hilariously nudged the Dutchman to complete his answers quickly.

The Australian Grand Prix witnessed Carlos Sainz's minor mistake costing him dearly, as Fernando Alonso offered expert analysis on the risks involved in ...

Andrea, a sports commentator who has a history in the F1 paddock, reportedly met the Spanish racing driver through her F1 commitments. And while very little is ...

Fernando Alonso has called it quits with his girlfriend Andrea Schlager in an emotional post moments after the Australian GP.

The message explained that the couple’s projects off the track will continue, as their relationship takes on a new form. It’s clear to see Alonso compartmentalize his life, as, despite his trying personal matters, the driver continued to enjoy the champagne showers at Albert Park. Thanking fans for their support, the couple signed off on the joint statement. The 43-year driver has shared some adorable moments with his Austrian F1 journalist girlfriend Andrea Schlager. However, while doing so, the champion has painfully closed a chapter of his life. Cutting ties with Schlager, Alonso revealed that the year-long relationship had met its end.