Ocon insults Alonso after attacking him: “What a fool!”
Fernando Alonso displayed resilience during the sprint in Brazil, finishing eleventh after clawing back four positions. He reflected on a chaotic start, noting that the morning incident with Ocon had already set a difficult tone. The Spanish veteran explained that the team opted to test and learn from the day rather than chase a dramatic result, focusing on pace and consistency rather than outright passes. He described the race as a learning exercise with a positive takeaway: the pace looked strong, and that momentum would be carried into the main event. The sentiment reflected a practical mindset: use the sprint to gather data, then maximize Sunday’s race.
Alonso later framed the sprint as a missed opportunity rather than a disaster. He acknowledged that the team could not leverage the pace fully in the sprint to collect points, but emphasized that the main race on Sunday remained the priority. The approach was to protect and refine the car’s setup so it could perform under Sunday conditions when strategic decisions and traffic are different. The driver underscored that, despite the setback, the car’s speed was a clear positive indicator for the next phase of the weekend and that points in the main race were the ultimate target.
This Saturday’s preview reinforced the expectations of the two-time world champion and his Aston Martin squad. The plan sees Lance Stroll starting from third and Alonso slotted in fourth for the main race, highlighting the team’s favorable grid position and the potential for a strong showing in the Brazilian event. The emphasis remained on maximizing the weekend’s opportunities and extracting the most from the car’s performance under various race conditions.
Observers noted that Alonso remained calm after the early setback, stressing that the sprint offered valuable pace indications and room to improve in the high-speed sections. His focus was on optimizing the weekend’s strategy, aiming for a podium finish or at least a top-five result, provided the race unfolds with manageable traffic and strategic retirements among rivals. The broader narrative centered on converting pace into results when it mattered most, particularly in a circuit where overtaking opportunities can be limited and strategy plays a decisive role.
In the morning, the aftermath of the incident with Ocon had been handled with restraint. Post-sprint, it became clear that tensions had spilled beyond the track, as a post-sprint exchange highlighted the friction between the drivers. While officials deemed the incident coincidental, the events underscored the competitive nature of the sport and the importance of maintaining composure when incidents occur. Alonso responded with measured candor, recognizing the need to avoid escalating tensions while continuing to push for the best possible outcome on race day. The team’s stance emphasized safety and sportmanship, even amid aggressive on-track battles.
Reflecting on the closing phase of the session, Alonso remarked that going into Turn 6, spectators might have misjudged the car’s width, prompting the car to leave the track and drift onto the grass. He described the moment as a reminder of how quickly close quarters can become precarious, and he reiterated the importance of ensuring the car is treated with care under pressure while still fighting for every position. The Aston Martin driver concluded that the focus should remain on clean, controlled aggression—pushing hard when conditions allow and avoiding unnecessary risks that could compromise the weekend’s bigger goals.