Fernando Alonso delivered a strong performance during the sprint shootout qualifying session at the Chinese Grand Prix. From his eye-catching golden and white helmet to a special sticker honoring Eddie Jordan — the founder of the team that eventually became Aston Martin — Alonso stood out both visually and on the track. His efforts brought him close to the top ten, ultimately securing 11th place with a lap time of 1:31.815, just narrowly missing out on SQ3 qualification, as Yuki Tsunoda edged him out with a 1:31.794.
“I’m very happy with the qualifying — the car was competitive,” Alonso stated after the session. Despite falling just short, he remained optimistic. “I had a great start, and on my first flying lap, I was second,” he added, referring to a stellar SQ1 performance where he set one of the fastest early times. That lap earned him a spot in SQ2, something his direct rivals, including the Alpine drivers and Liam Lawson in the Red Bull, couldn’t achieve.
Alonso emphasized how encouraging it is to see at least one Aston Martin car reach SQ3 — his teammate Lance Stroll made it through. He acknowledged how tight the field is and looked ahead to the sprint race with confidence. “We’re all very close. Let’s see what we can do in the Sprint. The main focus remains qualifying and the race, but there’s a chance to score points,” the Spanish driver remarked.
He didn’t rule himself out of the fight, especially with the unpredictable mid-field pack and some faster cars out of position, such as Lando Norris’s McLaren. Alonso knows the sprint could be a chaotic battle, and he’s ready to seize any opportunity that comes his way. “The midfield is incredibly tight,” he underlined.
In a lighter moment, Alonso even had time to reminisce about older race formats, expressing a playful wish for a return to single-lap qualifying. “I wish we could go back to one-lap qualifying — now we’re doing so many,” he joked, after enjoying a brilliant SQ1 run. His performance in China — a circuit that seems perfectly suited to his driving style — was yet another reminder of the level he still brings to the grid.
