Alonso disappointed despite strong Brazil qualifying effort

Fernando Alonso said he was partly disappointed despite securing his best qualifying result of the season at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Torrential rain at Interlagos levelled out the advantages between cars, allowing the two-time world champion to advance into Q3 with his Aston Martin for the first time this season, finishing ninth quickest after switching to intermediate tyres.

Alonso said he felt a top five result had been possible, but he had not optimised his final Q3 run. He explained that his first lap lacked tyre temperature and grip, while on the second he used too much energy deployment early, leaving him without the necessary resources. He said he needed to learn from the experience.

Alonso will start eighth on Sunday because of a grid penalty for Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. He said wet conditions offered Aston Martin a better chance of scoring points, as the team has managed only seven points from the first 19 races of 2026.