Aston Martin, specifically Fernando Alonso, had an impressive start to the 2023 season. In the previous year, Alonso achieved six podium finishes in the first six races, including a third-place finish in Australia. Although the first two races of this year were not as memorable, there is hope for a podium finish at the AMR24 this weekend, as indicated by Alonso’s performance in FP2 in Melbourne.
After finishing day one at Albert Park in fifth place on the timesheets, Alonso expressed cautious optimism. He acknowledged the satisfaction of being towards the top of the timesheet but emphasized the need to not draw any conclusions from Free Practice. There are still many variables to consider, especially at Albert Park where the track conditions change significantly. Alonso had a minor incident during FP1 when he ran through the gravel at Turn 10, requiring a floor change. Despite this setback, FP2 went smoothly, allowing the team to complete their planned program. The data collected will be analyzed to improve their chances in Qualifying. Alonso’s 381st Grand Prix start is scheduled for Sunday.
In a rare occurrence, Lance Stroll outpaced his experienced teammate in a session, finishing the day in fourth place. Stroll was pleased with the car’s performance and the balance. The team had a productive day gathering valuable data. Stroll noted their strong one-lap pace this season, but remained grounded as Free Practice does not reveal the true performance of other teams. Nonetheless, it was a positive start to the weekend, and Stroll looked forward to Qualifying.
Stroll aims to have a series of successful races, accumulating significant points. While he struggles with a poor car, his track record shows that he can be a reliable performer with a competitive car, as demonstrated by his three podium finishes. In the previous year’s Australian GP, Max Verstappen claimed victory for Red Bull, followed by Lewis Hamilton in second place for Mercedes, and Alonso in third place.