Alonso and Sainz start 2nd and 4th in Saudi Arabian GP

The 25-year-old Verstappen, who was dominant over the weekend, broke an axle shaft in his Red Bull. and was eliminated in the second round of qualifying (Q2) and the 33-year-old ‘Checo’ has not missed to sign his second ‘pol’ since driving in F1 just a year ago, in the same scenario as the first. anus. The brilliant Alonso also took advantage of the ten-place penalty from fellow Spaniard Carlos Sainz’s fourth starting partner, Monegasque Charles Leclerc, for changing his Ferrari’s control unit twice. .

if two sundays ago Fernando showcased a second youth at 41Aston finished third in Bahrain in his first race with Aston Martin – adding his 99th podium in the premier class – this weekend on a track with completely different characteristics than the green car Sakhir (seventh car last year), not only did it show the most progress between courses; however, in the hands of the double world champion of Asturias, he is in a position to desire anything.

Saudi Arabia is hosting this Sunday runner-up of the competition’s 23 races. And a lot can still happen. But even Alonso’s most radical followers would not have dreamed of becoming the new Aston Martin captain in his twentieth season in the honor division, in the region he traveled to; who, on his fifty-first birthday, gifted him a position at the front of the grid – alongside mighty Red Bull – to their new team manager, Luxembourg’s Mike Krack.

‘Czech’ will aim for fifth win in F1 From a ‘pole’, which he clearly signed in his first attempt in Q3, he covered the 6,174-meter course on the Red Sea coast in one minute, 28 seconds and 265 thousand, 155 less than the loser Leclerc, ten places and eleventh for the aforementioned sanction. will start with 465 against Alonso, who will start second in Jeddah this Sunday after marking his third time in qualifying. He realizes that Red Bull is far superior, but is wary of any mistakes the brave driver from Guadalajara might make in a car that is “another league in pure racing rhythm” for the Spaniard.

“Being competitive here on a completely different course than in Bahrain fills us with joy and happiness. takes a load off our shoulders“, the Asturias genius, who achieved the first of his 32 victories almost twenty years ago, and the last almost twenty years ago, explained to the Dazn television channel.

“I didn’t expect this result, because when the time trial comes you expect everybody to get that extra. The Red Bulls are still a long way from us, in another league, in pure racing rhythm. I even think Max (Verstappen) will take the podium from 15th to even fight for the victory. . Our race is in the rearview mirror, with Ferraris, Mercedes and Alps. It’s tempting to think about the win, but I don’t think it’s possible for the Red Bulls without a mechanical problem.“Alonso added after the main qualifying session that placed compatriot Sainz in second place to start alongside Brit’s George Russell (Mercedes), who finished third on the grid.

Alonso’s new teammate, Canadian Lance Stroll, will start the race from third to fifth, accompanied by Frenchman Esteban Ocon (Alpine). Behind them will be the other seven-time British world champion Mercedes. Lewis Hamiltonand Australian debutant Oscar Piastrinoteworthy this Saturday in the second qualifying with McLaren.

Hamilton, 38 years old -second oldest on grid- This Saturday ‘celebrates’ the sixteenth anniversary of his Formula 1 debut in Australia and his first podium: Finn finished third in a race won by Kimi Raikkonen and Alonso second. Stevenage’s eccentric and spectacular champion made it to the track where he achieved the last of his 103 (an all-time record) first-class victories; more than a year ago.

Verstappen, who will dethrone the Englishman one race later, The last test of 2022, In Abu Dhabi, he clearly dominated the third and final test, which was almost insignificant during the day: as opposed to nighttime qualifying – at the same time as the race. Alonso is one second behind the super-violent Dutchman and two Aston Martins line up just behind the cars of the dominant Austrian team.

Same result, adding The two Ferraris in fifth and sixth place are Leclerc and Carlosoccurred in Q1; The first lap of the time trial race, where the most famous knockout was McLaren’s British Lando Norris.

‘Mad Max’ raises alarm in second quarter, where he lost all option with a broken shaft that placed him in fifteenth place. In a race scheduled for 50 laps to complete a 308-and-a-half-kilometer route, this Sunday is one where no one should overlook another brutal comeback. In the Spanish peninsula, this will start at six in the afternoon (5:00 pm GMT).

Disappointment for one becomes opportunity for others. ‘Checo’ flew on its first try in the top ten rounds

in Jeddah. Where it is tireless and always resistant Alonso will be very wary of any fault of the Jalisco driver. which should not be neglected. He is aware that Verstappen may come; That Fernando also does not forgive forgetfulness.