Fernando Alonso’s incredible wet qualifying record continues with 15 straight Q3 appearances after Brazil P8

Fernando Alonso delivered another outstanding wet-weather qualifying performance at the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix, securing eighth place despite Aston Martin’s difficult season. The two-time Formula 1 world champion reached Q3 for the first time this year, extending a remarkable streak of 15 consecutive appearances in the final qualifying segment across rain-affected sessions, including those where rain arrived only in Q3.

The Spaniard has endured a challenging campaign behind the wheel of the Aston Martin AMR26, but the rain at Interlagos helped conceal the car’s engine-related limitations while highlighting Alonso’s exceptional ability in difficult conditions. On a day when torrential rain forced an early red flag during Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying, the experienced driver once again demonstrated why he remains such a formidable competitor on a wet circuit.

Fernando Alonso produces another wet qualifying masterclass in Brazil

It has been an extremely difficult season for Fernando Alonso, but the veteran Spaniard knows how to navigate a storm. During qualifying for the São Paulo Grand Prix, the two-time world champion finished eighth despite driving one of the least competitive cars on the grid.

The wet conditions helped mask the AMR26’s engine-related weaknesses and brought the drivers’ individual abilities into sharper focus. For Alonso, it was the ideal opportunity to secure his first Q3 appearance of the season, adding another impressive result to his remarkable wet-weather record.

Outstanding performances in the rain are nothing new for the Aston Martin driver. Indeed, Alonso has progressed beyond Q2 in each of the last 11 qualifying sessions in which that segment was affected by rain, a record unmatched by any other driver on the grid.

Fernando Alonso’s 15 consecutive Q3 appearances in wet qualifying

Alonso’s impressive sequence began in 2021, the year he returned to Formula 1. After failing to reach the top ten in qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps, the Spaniard bounced back by securing sixth place at Sochi in wet conditions.

From that point onwards, whenever rain has influenced qualifying in the sessions considered, Alonso has consistently secured a place among the first five rows of the grid.

The following results cover the 11 qualifying sessions in which rain was present during Q1 or Q2.

The list becomes even more impressive when four additional qualifying sessions are considered. At Imola in 2022, Interlagos in 2022 and 2023, and Sprint qualifying in Shanghai in 2024, rain arrived only after Q2 had concluded. Alonso nevertheless reached the final qualifying segment on each occasion.

Including those four events, the Spaniard has therefore made 15 consecutive appearances in the final qualifying segment across the rain-affected sessions considered, although the total includes one Sprint qualifying session.

How Alonso’s wet-weather record compares with Max Verstappen and Lando Norris

No other driver has recorded a better sequence across these qualifying sessions. Even Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, two of Formula 1’s leading competitors, have failed to reach Q3 in conditions where Alonso managed to progress.

Norris missed the final qualifying segment at Montreal in 2022 because of technical problems. Verstappen, meanwhile, failed to record a timed lap in qualifying at Sochi in 2021 because he was already set to start from the back of the grid.

The Dutchman also failed to reach Q3 at Interlagos in 2024, qualifying 12th during a weekend that would eventually produce one of his most memorable victories. Starting from 17th on the grid, Verstappen recovered to win the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Alonso finishes eighth as rain reshapes Brazilian GP qualifying

The 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix provided another example of how changing weather conditions can transform the competitive picture. Heavy rainfall disrupted the session at Interlagos, forcing drivers and teams to respond to difficult levels of grip and visibility.

Despite Aston Martin’s performance limitations, Alonso successfully navigated the challenging conditions and reached Q3. He ultimately recorded the eighth-fastest qualifying time, a result also reflected in the full 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying report, which details Lando Norris’s pole position and the final top-ten order.

For Alonso, the result provided a welcome highlight during a frustrating season. His ability to reach the final qualifying segment in difficult conditions remains one of the clearest demonstrations of the experience and car control that have defined his Formula 1 career.

Even with an Aston Martin struggling for outright competitiveness, the Spaniard has once again shown that when rain arrives, he remains capable of outperforming the limitations of his machinery.