Fernando Alonso claims he ‘extracted the maximum’ out of AMR24 amidst SHOCK SQ2 exit in Austria 

The Aston Martin F1 team has not been in the best of form during the ongoing 2024 F1 season.

Fernando Alonso claims he ‘extracted the maximum’ out of AMR24 amidst SHOCK SQ2 exit in Austria 

Fernando Alonso and AMR24 (via IMAGO)

Aston Martin F1 driver, Fernando Alonso concluded he did as much as he could have after a poor sprint qualifying for the team. Alonso was eliminated in SQ2 on Friday after the Spaniard failed to find pace in the sturdy AMR24 in Spielberg.

Fernando Alonso has not had a fruitful season so far and is currently ninth in the championship, with only 41 points after ten races. Aston Martin’s AMR24 has also been a much different car than their 2023 version, which has contributed to the Silverstone-based team’s decline this season.

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However, Alonso claimed that the car felt convincing in SQ1 and SQ2 in Austria as it handled better around corners and straights. But the Spaniard was left in shock after the AMR24 was unable to make it to the top 10 after a promising session.

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It was very tight out there as we expected. I was quite happy with my laps in Sprint Qualifying and I felt we extracted the maximum lap-time in both SQ1 and SQ2. Sadly, it wasn’t enough to make it into SQ3 today.
Fernando Alonso said after the Sprint qualifying in Austria

Aston Martin will now look to maximize their outcomes starting P12 and P13 on the grid for the sprint race. Furthermore, the outfit will receive a second chance to perform better in the main race on Sunday as they aim for a better performance in the main race qualifying.

Lance Stroll deems last lap error as reason for SQ2 elimination

While Alonso missed out on SQ3, the same was the case for Lance Stroll. He claimed the last lap of SQ2 could have been better for him if not for an error in the closing stages. Stroll recently signed a contract extension with Aston Martin and thus, has been keen to perform in Austria.

Lance Stroll
Lance Stroll (via IMAGO)
We still have some work to do, but the car had a bit more pace today. I was pushing hard out there to try and get the most out of the lap, but just lost it slightly in the final corner.
Lance Stroll responded after the Sprint qualifying in Austria

Lance Stroll has been one of the weaker links at Aston Martin this season, scoring just 17 points in ten races. However, the Canadian claimed that the AMR24 was fast around the corners of the Red Bull Ring but still required a bit more to make it into SQ3.

The 25-year-old driver further elaborated that in an ambitious attempt to push the car over its limit, he missed out on a good ending to his lap in the final corner of the Red Bull Ring. Stroll hence asserted that his mistake might have been the difference in Sprint quali but is hopeful of better outings in the upcoming events of the Austrian GP race weekend.

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