Fernando Alonso managed an 11th-place finish at the Japanese Grand Prix, a result he deemed a ‘small miracle’ given the pace of his Aston Martin.
At the Japanese Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso, starting from 13th on the grid, advanced to 11th but could not secure points, trailing Haas’ Oliver Bearman by three seconds. His performance came as Aston Martin faced difficulties adding to their initial 10 points from earlier in the season, with Alonso not finishing in Australia and China.
Assessing the race, Alonso expressed to Spain’s DAZN that earning points seemed out of reach due to the car’s lack of speed. In his words, “Truth is, we’re not fast enough to be in the top ten. And I guess we’re not even fast enough to be in the top eighteen.” Nevertheless, the former F1 World Champion considered reaching P11 somewhat miraculous given the car’s performance.
Alonso described the race as having little grip, with strategic tire changes aimed at retaining P11 and capitalizing on any potential opportunities for points. He noted, “We changed tyres to cover [Yuki] Tsunoda… if I hadn’t stopped on that lap, I would’ve come out P12 or P13. We also have the slowest car on the straights.” This lack of straight-line speed meant overtaking was unlikely, leaving Alonso and Aston Martin in a difficult situation throughout the race.
Despite the underwhelming race, Alonso took pride in extracting everything possible from his car, describing it as one of his best personal performances albeit an “anonymous” race. He remarked, “No one’s going to remember, as I always say sometimes, P11 in Suzuka in 2025, but it’s without a doubt one of my best races personally.” The stagnant nature of the Suzuka race, with little change in the top 10 order, highlighted the challenges faced at this storied circuit.
Reflecting on Suzuka’s history, Alonso noted its reputation for driving enjoyment rather than overtaking opportunities, drawing parallels to Monaco. He remarked on the excitement leading up to the race, contrasted by the lack of overtaking on race day, suggesting that new regulations might change the dynamic in the future.
While Fernando Alonso’s run at the Japanese Grand Prix ended without points, his ability to maximize his car’s potential in challenging conditions showcased his enduring skill and grit on the Formula 1 circuit.
