Fernando Alonso had been pushing hard for a strong performance in Australia, but as the session wore on, his frustration began to surface. Alpine’s renewed emphasis on a single-player youth challenge had inadvertently distorted what had otherwise looked like a showcase for the Asturian driver. The Australian Grand Prix presented a sour moment for Alonso as he faced a setback that felt heavier than most days on track. From the moment the clock ticked down and the laps rolled, he looked determined to challenge for pole or at least secure a top-four starting position. Yet repeated reliability issues persisted, and by the end of the session he found himself scheduled to start tenth on the grid tomorrow, a result far from ideal and far from what the team had hoped to achieve.
“We’re still investigating but it’s a hydraulic issue, I didn’t have the shifting or power steering. Everything exploded on that corner. And that’s a shame, I think I was a tenth better on pole and had two sets of tires, so we could fight for that pole. We were having the best weekend in many years,” Alonso said in a candid moment at the DAZN microphones, trying to balance technical concern with the pride of a competitive weekend. The sense of what could have been lingered in his words as he reflected on the car’s performance under pressure.
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“Another problem with my car, it’s pretty frustrating, let’s see if we can finish them. Fighting for pole position is something we’ve been waiting for for a long time and it’s coming for the first time. Having problems again is a little frustrating. You want to have these problems when you’re eleven when you’re not fighting for something important,” he added, trying to keep the mood realistic while acknowledging the tangible disappointment of the moment.
But the positive part for Alonso was evident: the car felt incredibly responsive and comfortable throughout the weekend. Despite the technical glitches, the package still projected serious pace. “The car was very fast all weekend and we were finally able to fight to be in the front row. That is, until the hydraulic problem came. It’s a bitter feeling, the result is disappointing, but in the end we have performed our best in recent years. We will continue to work hard,” he warned, emphasizing a measured optimism that the team could recover quickly and push for strong results in the race.
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What a pity. Fernando Alonso had delivered an impressive lap and even set a second industry benchmark, but the hydraulic system failed at a critical moment, leaving him to watch the gap widen and the wall approach faster than anticipated. The moment underscored how fragile a good performance can be when reliability dictates the outcome, turning a remarkable run into a reminder of the sport’s unforgiving nature.
A pain. @alo_oficial #AustraliaDAZNF1 pic.twitter.com/p0B4a9mTL3
— DAZN Spain (@DAZN_ES) April 9, 2022
For tomorrow’s race, and with the clock ticking toward the start, Alonso did not rule out changes to the A522 that might be needed to avoid any further issues. He noted that penalties could come if changes were deemed necessary, but he stressed that his primary focus remained on maximizing performance for the race. “We also need to see if we need to change something in the car, if we have a penalty but I don’t care right now. I wanted to fight for pole today and podium tomorrow but if we do,” he said with a determined, if weary, resolve. The sentiment reflected the broader frustration of a weekend that promised much but delivered little, leaving Alonso to brace for a challenging yet potentially rewarding race if the car could be made reliable again.