Fernando Alonso believes Aston Martin produced one of its most competitive performances of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Brazilian Grand Prix, despite finishing only 12th following a first-lap collision with Oliver Bearman. The Spanish driver praised the AMR26’s cornering performance and the quality of his on-track battles at Interlagos, although the team once again failed to score points.
There was further disappointment on the other side of the garage, where Lance Stroll suffered his third consecutive retirement after a battery problem forced him out on lap 30. The result left Aston Martin reflecting on another difficult weekend, even if Fernando Alonso found reasons for encouragement ahead of the final races of the championship.
Fernando Alonso praises Aston Martin’s Brazilian GP performance despite P12 finish
Fernando Alonso’s progression into Q3 during qualifying had raised hopes that Aston Martin could return to the points after the Spaniard’s eighth-place finish in Malaysia. However, the two-time world champion was unable to convert that promising qualifying performance into a top-ten result, eventually crossing the finish line in 12th position.
The constantly changing track conditions at Interlagos made the Brazilian Grand Prix particularly challenging. Nevertheless, Alonso felt that his car performed well, especially through the corners, and considered the race one of Aston Martin’s strongest in terms of competitiveness.
The 45-year-old also had to contend with damage following a collision with Oliver Bearman’s Haas on the opening lap. The incident occurred at Turn 3, where the British driver slightly lost control of his car, leaving Alonso unable to avoid contact.
“The car performed well, particularly in the corners, and we had some great on-track battles,” Fernando Alonso explained. “I think it was one of our most competitive races, although we struggled a little in terms of straight-line performance.”
“We made a good start in wet conditions, but then I couldn’t avoid contact with Bearman, who lost control of his car slightly at Turn 3.”
Despite the contact and the disappointing finishing position, Alonso believes there are positives Aston Martin can take from the weekend. The Spaniard emphasised that the team must continue working to reduce its performance deficit ahead of the 2027 Formula 1 season.
“There are positives to take from this weekend. We need to keep working hard to close the gap for next year.”
Fernando Alonso identifies straight-line performance as Aston Martin weakness
Although Aston Martin missed out on points, Fernando Alonso’s assessment highlighted the difference between the car’s competitiveness in the corners and its performance on the straights.
The Spaniard was satisfied with the handling of the AMR26 through Interlagos’ technical sections but acknowledged that the team continued to lose performance in a straight line. That limitation contributed to an afternoon in which Aston Martin appeared more competitive than its final result suggested.
The first-lap collision with Oliver Bearman added another complication to an already demanding race. Alonso had previously expressed frustration about driving standards following an incident involving Alexander Albon at the United States Grand Prix, while his latest race again featured contact with another competitor.
For Aston Martin, the encouraging qualifying result and Alonso’s positive feedback offer some reassurance, but the team still has considerable work ahead if it wants to close the gap to its rivals next season.
Lance Stroll suffers third consecutive retirement after Brazilian GP battery problem
While Fernando Alonso managed to complete the Brazilian Grand Prix, Lance Stroll endured another disastrous weekend. The Canadian was forced to retire for the third consecutive race, extending his tally to 14 retirements during the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Stroll’s race ended on lap 30 when a battery problem forced Aston Martin to withdraw his car. The mechanical issue brought another frustrating afternoon to a premature conclusion following a demanding sequence of three consecutive Grands Prix.
“We had to retire the car on lap 30 because of a battery problem,” Lance Stroll explained. “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 for next year.”
With the Brazilian Grand Prix complete, Aston Martin will turn its attention towards the final phase of the season. Stroll confirmed that the team intends to use the break before Las Vegas to assess where improvements can still be made.
“Now we’re focusing on the final stretch of the season, and we’ll use the time available before heading to Las Vegas to understand where we can improve our current performance.”
The contrasting experiences of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll summed up Aston Martin’s Brazilian Grand Prix. Although the team showed encouraging pace in certain conditions, the Spaniard’s damaged car and the Canadian’s battery-related retirement ultimately prevented it from achieving a points finish.
With attention increasingly turning towards 2027, Aston Martin will be looking to build on the positive aspects of its Interlagos performance while addressing the weaknesses that continue to limit its results.
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