Alonso admits Aston Martin ‘need to understand’ turnaround after impressive Qualifying in Hungary
Aston Martin went from Qualifying last in Belgium to securing the third row a few days later in Hungary.

Fernando Alonso conceded that Aston Martin still need to understand the reasons behind their impressive turnaround in Qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, with the Spaniard and team mate Lance Stroll claiming fifth and sixth on the grid just days after ending up at the very back in Spa-Francorchamps.
In an eventful weekend so far for the squad – which saw Alonso sit out FP1 due to a muscular injury in his back – there were positive signs during Friday’s practice sessions, Alonso having ended FP2 in P5 with Stroll just ahead in P4.
This run of form continued into Saturday's Qualifying, leading Alonso to admit that there are still some lessons to be learned in how the team’s fortunes have changed so quickly from last weekend.
Asked during a chat with Sky Sports F1 where his performance had come from, the two-time World Champion joked: “From the driver, obviously! No, the car was much better this weekend.
“We need to understand why because six days ago in Quali in Spa we were 19th and 20th, and now we are fifth and sixth. The car didn’t change much for anybody and it seemed that this layout and these characteristics are better for our package, so we need to maximise these kinds of weekends.”
Pushed on whether it may be the result of Aston Martin’s continued upgrades push – and if this can help to give them further direction going forwards – Alonso responded: “Absolutely. This is down to the team and the effort that everyone is putting back at Silverstone and here on the race weekends.
“The front wing, which is maybe the first race that we’ve properly used it, is giving us that extra load in the corners, and in Hungary obviously it’s very important. I think we are trying to understand also the tools we have in the factory, wind tunnel, CFD, all the new people that joined the team.
“I think it’s the third time, [with the] Imola package and the floor in Silverstone and the front wing now – all three upgrades delivered exactly what we were expecting, so this is very encouraging for next year’s project.”
After quipping that “the car is better than my back, but I will do my best tomorrow”, Alonso said of his goals for Sunday in a separate interview with F1 TV: “P5 is a great place, for sure, and tomorrow I don’t know what can be possible but we will try to consolidate these positions. It would be huge for the team if we can finish in the starting positions.”
The change from last weekend’s showing also came as a pleasant surprise for Stroll, who will line up in sixth place for Sunday’s race at the Hungaroring.
“It was really good,” Stroll told Sky Sports F1 of his Qualifying performance in Budapest. “All week it’s been good, the car’s been in the window since the first lap of FP1, and again in Qualifying really nice to drive. A good turnaround after last week.
“I think [it’s down to] the nature of the track. I think putting on the downforce and not too much wind out there today, coolish conditions, so I think kind of the stars aligned for us out there this afternoon.
“Places like Spa where we need the efficiency on the straights and the downforce, Sector 2 I think is more of a struggle for us, but I think today was good.
“I think the wind picked up or changed direction [in Q3], I’m not exactly sure, but I went like four-tenths slower than Q2, so there was something that happened out there but it was still pretty good.”
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