Fernando Alonso: So far only the first step has been taken

Of the Aston Martin drivers, only Fernando Alonso reached the qualifying final and he will ultimately start from the second row in the Qatar Grand Prix. His partner, Lance Stroll, failed to navigate the situation when it was necessary to act correctly in difficult circumstances.

Fernando Alonso (4th): “I am very pleased with the results of qualifying and that, after a number of weekends where we were not so competitive, this time I will start from 4th position in the race on Sunday.

Today it was very difficult to control the car because the track was very slippery and there was also a strong wind. During practice I felt the car could run at a good pace, and this was confirmed during qualifying.

But so far only the first step has been taken and tomorrow we have a sprint ahead of us, so we will see what we can do, because there are points to be earned on both days.”

Lance walk (17th): “Today’s qualifying upset me. My first lap was disallowed for a violation and my second lap had to be cut short due to traffic, so the final attempt was difficult.

The car’s handling was very normal, but we just didn’t have enough speed. Tomorrow is another chance, so as we prepare for the sprint we have to try to figure everything out.”

Mike KrakTeam boss: “Fernando drove some very good laps tonight, allowing us to start from 4th position in Sunday’s race.

The Friday before the sprint is always a difficult day, especially if you have to work on a dusty track about which we have little information. But the condition of the surface is improving rapidly.

The work of the team at the Silverstone base and the racing crew at the track is to be commended, as we were able to find the optimal settings for the car very quickly. Unfortunately, Lance was unable to progress to the second session as his laps were not allowed due to track limits, leaving him at a disadvantage and unable to improve his time.