Fernando Alonso secured Aston Martin’s best result of the 2026 Formula 1 season, finishing eighth at the Bahrain Grand Prix held at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. Despite the points finish, Alonso expressed a degree of dissatisfaction, indicating he had anticipated a stronger performance from the AMR26.
The two-time world champion qualified twelfth, with both Aston Martin cars reaching Q2 for the first time this season. However, the race start proved challenging as the team opted for slick tyres on a wet track, a gamble that saw Alonso drop to seventeenth position.
Slick tyres, designed for dry conditions, offer minimal grip on damp or wet surfaces, increasing the risk of aquaplaning and significant time loss. This initial strategic misstep immediately compromised Alonso’s track position.
A subsequent safety car period proved pivotal, allowing the field to regroup and effectively reset Alonso’s race. Safety cars are known to wipe out existing gaps and force teams into high-stakes strategic decisions.
Following the restart, Alonso demonstrated strong pace, making decisive overtakes on Sergio Perez and Alexander Albon. He reported that the Aston Martin was ‘even faster than the Ferraris’ and that he had ‘overtook Hamilton’ before pulling away.
Alonso’s recovery continued after his second pit stop, moving him into the top ten and securing crucial championship points. He later told Sky Sports F1, ‘We executed well today, so I’m happy for the team, for the points.’
“I’m happy for the team. There are not many weekends where we can score points, and in those weekends we cannot have any mistakes and we cannot lose the opportunity. We executed well today, so I’m happy for the team, for the points.”
Despite the positive result, Alonso admitted to expecting more from the car’s race speed, citing persistent oversteer issues. A minor wing adjustment during the race did not significantly alleviate the problem, highlighting ongoing development work.
The AMR26, designed by Adrian Newey, is Aston Martin’s new car for the 2026 season, built under significant technical regulation changes affecting both chassis and power unit. The team faced a compressed development timeline, starting wind tunnel testing later than rivals.
Aston Martin has endured a challenging 2026 season, often positioned at the back of the grid, with their first point scored at the Monaco Grand Prix. Recent upgrades, including an ADUO2 turbocharger and an ADUO engine, aim to improve performance.
In the closing stages of the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, Alonso successfully defended his eighth position against Lando Norris. This battle involved strategic management of the Energy Recovery System (ERS).
Norris reportedly depleted his battery during a prior engagement with Nico Hulkenberg, requiring two laps to recharge. Alonso, with a full ERS battery, utilized it on the straights to maintain his advantage.
The ERS system, crucial in 2026 cars with increased electrical energy, allows drivers to recover kinetic energy from braking and deploy it for a power boost, vital for both attacking and defending. Drivers can influence energy recovery through techniques like ‘lift and coast’.
Alonso suggested that the Sepang circuit’s characteristics, which reward aerodynamic balance, stability, and direction changes in its medium and high-speed corners, suited the AMR26’s updated package better. This helped mitigate the car’s known straight-line speed weakness.
The Bahrain International Circuit, typically a stop-and-go layout with long straights and abrasive surfaces, usually tests a car’s fundamental performance. However, the specific conditions at Sepang for this event played to Aston Martin’s strengths.
Alonso anticipates that Aston Martin could be more competitive at the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix. The Marina Bay Street Circuit is a physically demanding street track known for its bumpy surface, humid conditions, and high braking demands.
Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll recently extended their contracts with Aston Martin beyond the 2026 season, a commitment made despite the team’s ongoing performance challenges. Alonso, at 45, remains a key figure in the team’s long-term ambitions.
