Aston Martin ‘motived’ and ‘determined’ to improve – Alonso

Fernando Alonso showcased his enduring skill with a brilliant start at the Australian Grand Prix, rocketing from P17 to P10, a moment he dubbed the "best part" of his weekend. Despite the impressive start, Aston Martin's car lacked competitive pace, leading to Alonso retiring the car twice due to technical issues, though he briefly re-joined for crucial mileage. The team openly admitted pre-race struggles, treating the Grand Prix as a vital data-gathering exercise. Alonso highlighted the value of completing race elements and collecting data, viewing it as essential learning for future improvements. Teammate Lance Stroll also faced significant hurdles, missing FP3 and qualifying due to an ICE issue, but was permitted to race. He managed to complete 43 laps, akin to a practice session, gathering more valuable data for the team. Despite the difficulties, both Alonso and Stroll expressed optimism, believing the collected data and lessons learned will enable Aston Martin to make progress by the Chinese Grand Prix.