Fernando Alonso endured his worst weekend of the 2023 Formula 1 season so far at the Spanish Grand Prix, as the Spaniard had to settle for seventh at his home event.
Despite having looked good in free practice, Alonso could only qualify eighth on Saturday following a mistake in Q3.
This saw him out-qualified by team-mate Lance Stroll for the first time this year, as the Canadian claimed fifth for Sunday’s seventh race of the season.
Alonso received incredible support throughout the weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya; however, he could only claim seventh in the race.
Want to work in Formula 1? Browse the latest F1 job vacancies
This was again behind Stroll, with the 24-year-old having finished sixth.
Alonso’s result marked the first time this season he’s finished outside the top-four, highlighting just how well he’s started the year.
With Aston Martin having not finished amongst the top-five, the Silverstone-based team slipped to second in the Constructors’ Championship, as Mercedes achieved a double podium.
They did at least extend their advantage over Ferrari, who endured another difficult weekend.
Despite having slipped to third, Alonso is confident that the team can reclaim second perhaps as soon as next weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix, where upgrades will be installed.
It’s expected that Aston Martin will make a significant improvement in Canada next weekend and at the British Grand Prix in July, making Alonso believe that his side will “crush” the Silver Arrows.
“I’m happy because qualifying was the Achilles heel of the whole weekend,” Alonso said, as reported by The Mirror.
READ: Helmut Marko reveals how Red Bull stopped Ferrari from signing Christian Horner
“After starting from so far back, I was able to come back but only so far and both [George] Russell and Checo [Perez] were faster than us today, so there was a lot to do. Then we saved points.
“In terms of the constructors’, it’s true that Mercedes took some important points from us, but we took points from Ferrari again. In Canada we will bring more stuff, in Silverstone too… It will depend on who brings the improvements.
“Even with a normal time, we would have been on a par with Hamilton [in Barcelona] and maybe we would have had a better chance. I think it’s a race and, in Canada, we crush them.”