Formula 1 Australian GP
Fernando Alonso suffers damage but "maybe Q3 was possible" in Australia
Fernando Alonso is optimistic about his Aston Martin pace despite early qualifying exit in Australia.
Lydia Mee
Edited: Mar 15, 2025, 7:36 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso has reacted to his Q2 exit in Australia. After getting through the initial round, the Aston Martin driver suffered damage early in Q2, something that ended his session. He will start the Australian Grand Prix from 12th.
The Silverstone outfit confirmed the damage to the media, including Motorsport.com, following Alonso's qualifying exit:
"Fernando sustained some floor damage in his first Q2 run which cost some performance for his final run in the session."
Despite the early exit, the Spaniard remains optimistic about where the AMR25 sits in comparison to its rivals.
"I'm happy with today's feeling, first qualifying of the year, the first moment that you are in the same moment with the same conditions to everyone, so there is always a little bit of curiosity on where are you, so we were in the top 10.
"We were quite fast, then yeah, I made a mistake in Q2, run one. I went a little bit wide in Turn 10, I think I had damaged the floor a little bit.
"So in Q2, I was not maybe 100% with the car, even though still, P12 with a not perfect car... so maybe Q3 was possible today and to be the first qualifying of the year, I think it's a good sign."
When asked if he was happy with the performance of his machinery today, the Spanish driver added:
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
"I think this morning it was a little bit weird. We experimented a little bit with the set-up. It didn't work. I was P18 or something like that.
"We revert to yesterday's set-up, and in qualifying, the car was fast, so I don't know, we are close to the top 10, close to Q3, so I think it's a good start. We need to build from here.
"There's a very competitive field, so we need to improve, we need to raise our level, and don't make any mistake like I did today because it could be very costly."
There is heavy rain predicted for the Grand Prix tomorrow. While this will add an extra layer of difficulty for the grid, Alonso isn't looking forward to the lack of visibility.
"The biggest thing tomorrow is the visibility. If the visibility is fine, then I think the rest could be fun if it rains, but Melbourne is not a straight line so it could be tricky.
"It's not fun when you drive and you cannot see, but we are ready, in the same conditions for everybody, so hopefully we score points.
"That's the target. We start P12, only two positions away from the target, so let's let's try."
The two-time champion ended:
"We are not fighting for top 5 or anything like that. We are at the very back of Q3, but I think we can be in the mix."
Photos from Australian GP - Practice & Qualifying
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
Formula 1
75
Read Also:
Formula 1Mercedes reveals damage on Antonelli's car, which cost him qualifying run
Formula 1F1 Australian GP: Norris takes pole from Piastri, as Lawson and Antonelli struggle
Formula 1Lawson frustrated after Q1 exit in disastrous Australian GP qualifying
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Mercedes reveals damage on Antonelli's car, which cost him qualifying run
Next article After a "tough start", Verstappen didn't expect to qualify in the top three
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Lydia Mee
Laurent Mekies credited with ending Red Bull's second seat "curse"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
1 mo
Laurent Mekies credited with ending Red Bull's second seat "curse"
Guenther Steiner jokes Christian Horner Ferrari talk is good book publicity
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
1 mo
Guenther Steiner jokes Christian Horner Ferrari talk is good book publicity
Kimi Antonelli has "spooked himself" amid F1 title pressure, says Naomi Schiff
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
1 mo
Kimi Antonelli has "spooked himself" amid F1 title pressure, says Naomi Schiff
More from
Fernando Alonso
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Formula 1
Formula 1 1 d
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Who slept worst last night: Fernando Alonso
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
5 d
Who slept worst last night: Fernando Alonso
More from
Aston Martin Racing
FIA reveals latest ADUO results in final review of 2026 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1 4 d
FIA reveals latest ADUO results in final review of 2026 F1 season
Honda struggling to explain Lance Stroll’s 13th DNF of the season
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
4 d
Honda struggling to explain Lance Stroll’s 13th DNF of the season
Latest news
The ten closest finishes from the 2026 NASCAR season
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 16 h
The ten closest finishes from the 2026 NASCAR season
‘Lewis suspected a conspiracy’ – Nico Rosberg explains how Lewis Hamilton F1 rivalry went awry at Mercedes
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 17 h
‘Lewis suspected a conspiracy’ – Nico Rosberg explains how Lewis Hamilton F1 rivalry went awry at Mercedes
BMW "proud of what we achieved" after securing runner-up in 2026 WEC
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
18 h
BMW "proud of what we achieved" after securing runner-up in 2026 WEC
The numbers that reveal how sprint races have turned the MotoGP title fight upside down
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
20 h
The numbers that reveal how sprint races have turned the MotoGP title fight upside down
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe