Fernando Alonso believes Aston Martin produced one of its most competitive performances of the season at the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix, despite finishing 12th and missing out on points at Interlagos. The two-time Formula 1 world champion highlighted the car’s strong cornering performance and several entertaining on-track battles, although first-lap damage and a lack of straight-line speed compromised his race.
After reaching Q3 in qualifying, Fernando Alonso had raised Aston Martin’s hopes of returning to the points following his eighth-place finish in Malaysia. However, the Spaniard was unable to convert that promising starting position into a top-ten result, with changing track conditions making the race particularly challenging.
Fernando Alonso praises Aston Martin’s Brazilian GP performance despite early damage
Fernando Alonso nevertheless delivered a solid performance at Interlagos, demonstrating encouraging pace despite the difficulties. The 45-year-old also had to contend with damage to his Aston Martin following an opening-lap collision with Oliver Bearman’s Haas, adding another complication to an already demanding afternoon.
Reflecting on his race, Fernando Alonso said: “The car felt good, particularly in the corners, and we enjoyed some good battles on track. I think it was one of our most competitive races, although we struggled a little with our performance on the straights.”
The Aston Martin driver also explained how the incident unfolded as the field negotiated the wet conditions at the start of the Grand Prix.
“We made a good start in the wet conditions, but then I couldn’t avoid contact with Bearman, who lost a little control of his car at Turn 3. There are positives to take from this weekend; we need to keep working hard to close the gap ahead of next year.”
Although the result fell short of Aston Martin’s expectations after qualifying, Fernando Alonso’s assessment suggested that the team’s performance through the corners offered some encouragement. Straight-line performance remained a weakness, however, while the first-lap contact further complicated his attempt to secure another points finish.
Lance Stroll suffers another retirement after battery problem
While Fernando Alonso completed the Brazilian Grand Prix, Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll endured another disastrous weekend. The Canadian retired for the third consecutive race, marking the 14th occasion during the 2026 Formula 1 season that he had failed to reach the chequered flag.
Lance Stroll’s race came to an end on lap 30 because of a battery problem, preventing him from completing the final Grand Prix of a demanding triple-header.
Explaining the retirement, Lance Stroll said: “We had to retire the car on lap 30 because of a battery problem. It was another difficult weekend at the end of a long run of three consecutive races, but we know which areas we need to work on ahead of next year.”
The Aston Martin driver also outlined the team’s immediate priorities as the championship approaches its final races.
“We’re now focusing on the final stretch of the season and will use the time available before heading to Las Vegas to understand where we can improve our current performance.”
With Fernando Alonso identifying positives in Aston Martin’s race pace and Lance Stroll suffering another reliability-related retirement, the team leaves Interlagos with contrasting experiences. Its attention now turns towards the remaining races on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, while continuing its efforts to close the performance gap ahead of the following season.
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