Alonso and Newey’s chassis shine: “It has been a step forward and the car is the same. We will try to do a good job and have fun, we have to enjoy it”

Like a caged lion. That’s how it was Fernando Alonso for much of this year, after a disappointing start to the Aston Martin and Honda due, above all, to the initial problems with the engine, which continues to show a great lack of power, and a chassis that has taken a big step forward since Hungary. And on tracks where the car’s performance can offset the lack of speed of the Honda engine, that lion that was screaming behind bars, comes out of its cage to attack as much as possible, as happened in Sepang this Saturday.

In it Bahrain GP which is disputed in Malaysiathe Asturian driver was able to take advantage of several factors such as his experience on a track complicated by the poor condition of the asphalt, but above all, the performance of the chassis. Adrian Newey andn curve so as not to fail. On a loading route, it shone again. I warned from Hungary that there would be very complicated races, with long straights, where the car would once again be very far away. It happened in Monza and Baku. And he also suffered in Madrid. But he knew that he had to take advantage of the few opportunities that remained throughout the year on tracks where his car could perform better.

Sepang was a positive surprise in this regard, as the team ambassador acknowledged, Pedro de la Rosa, and Fernando once again performed without errors, as shown by the ‘on board’ of his return. The Spaniard managed to get the most out of his car at the right time. In fact, he did it from the first lap of the weekend. And on his final lap, despite having the worst lead on the straight (305 km/h, compared to Bottas’ 329), he was 13th in sector 3 and 15th in sector 1.

But that is not something new and it speaks of something very difficult to see in an F1 champion: the ability to not lower the bar or give up despite having a bad car for so many years, always trying to stay at the best for when the day comes, to place the car in the place it deserves or even more, no matter how far it is from triumphs. Pure resilience.

He also got the most out of his car on tracks as contrary as Baku. But there, doing nothing, just pressing the accelerator on the long straights of Azerbaijan, his engine was losing a lot of time compared to the rest. There was nothing about piloting that could change it. It was purely a question of the engine.

And that’s what the man from Oviedo talked about after qualifying in Sepang. The same car with which he is condemned to occupy the last positions on tracks such as the ones in Monza and Baku, or the one that will come from Las Vegas, is a good car to fight in the middle zone and even aspire to the points on some occasions, as could be this Sunday.

“It’s our best weekend in terms of performance”

“It was good, obviously our best weekend in terms of car performance, with both in Q2 for the first time this year, 1.5 seconds off the lead. “It has been a step forward, without a doubt, in terms of competitiveness, the car is the same as the last four races since Budapest, so it depends a lot on the track,” the man from Oviedo pointed out in statements to the written press.

“Depending on the number of straights we can be more or less competitive, but there is nothing new in that aspect,” he stressed. It was already well known, but I had to remember it. “We just have to take advantage of the opportunities when the weekend comes and, hopefully, this Sunday we can have a clean race”he commented. For now, he took advantage of it in qualifying.

Go for some complicated points, but not impossible

If the AMR26 once again makes a difference with better tire degradation than the restas he already did in Zandvoort, where Alonso was able to lengthen his first stint a lot to go to a stop, using more aerodynamic load than tires when they were worn, he could qualify for the points in Sepang.

However, Fernando considers that it is very difficult for him to achieve this in the race this Sunday due to the lack of top speed of the Honda engine. which could make you lose positions on the straight in the first turns.

But if the Netherlands pattern repeats itself, their strength will have to be on a curve to get away from their opponents. Also in trying to gain some position at the start that will momentarily give him oxygen against his most direct rivals. And then, hold on as tightly as possible to an ‘overtaking mode’ train to be able to defend yourself as much as you can, despite your lack of power on the straight.

And once everyone’s tires start to suffer. Of course, rain will also be another factor to take into account, since a storm can hit Sepang from one moment to the next. And there, having good downforce could also help you.

“What we achieve in the race will depend on many factors, so we will try to do a good job. And, of course, have fun. It is much better to start 12th than 21st, so we will try to enjoy it” concluded Alonso.