That’s what Alonso and Sainz did in free practice 2 in Bahrain
Fernando Alonso wore a measured smile as Bahrain’s Friday sessions wrapped up, signaling a clear sense of satisfaction with the progress shown by his Aston Martin. Yet the Spaniard stayed grounded, underscoring that the real test would come when the focus shifted to tuning and setup rather than chasing lap times. The mood around the garage was practical: the car felt strong, but the team would wait to see how the performance translated on race day. As Alonso walked away from the car, the message was steady and simple—ambition is in the process, not the bragging rights of a single session.
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Horner: “I don’t know what Alonso does, but it works”
“Obviously this is another step in the right direction. The car feels good, and it’s encouraging to see the pace, but there is no time focus yet. Our priority remains tuning and reliability. After Alonso exited the cockpit, the team began a broader evaluation of the setup and how to push the balance further. The week’s work at the factory was intense, with two or three months of continuous effort aimed at pushing the car to its edge.”
That same sense of forward momentum continued as the team highlighted the ongoing improvements in the car’s overall behavior. The goal is to stay consistent and avoid overreaching, maintaining a balance between raw speed and mechanical stability. The engineers showed confidence in the step taken, yet warned that a front-running performance requires sustained, meticulous work rather than a single spark in Bahrain. This sentiment underlined the importance of a measured approach as the season unfolds.
When asked to reflect on whether Aston Martin represents the best machinery Alonso has driven since his time with Ferrari, he cited extensive simulation work and constant collaboration with the engineering group. The Spaniard emphasized that the knowledge and talent within the team are exceptional, and that ambition is paired with a firm grounding in reality. The focus remains on long-term growth, not sprinting ahead for a headline result this year. The message was clear: there is genuine motivation to compete for top honors, but the path requires patient, disciplined progress.
Horner’s remark about Alonso’s methods echoed in the paddock, underscoring a broader belief that a blend of talent, strategy, and the right environment can yield consistent results. The remarks also touched on the human side of a Formula 1 season—the relentless study, the countless meetings, and the constant simulations that shape decisions long before the cars reach the grid. The upshot: a team culture that prizes preparation as much as performance, with every member contributing to a collective push toward the kind of sustained competitiveness that defines champions.
Finally, the subject of pole position came up again. Alonso did not entertain any dream-like fantasies about a perfect run on Saturday. He was candid about the unknowns of qualifying and the need to focus on the process rather than chasing a single lucky moment. The aim, as ever, is to collect as many points as possible across the weekend while minimizing mistakes, a philosophy that aligns with a longer-term strategy rather than a quick flashy result. That pragmatic outlook remains central to the team’s approach as it builds toward the next rounds of the season.