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via PlanetF1Fernando Alonso reveals Aston Martin theory after qualifying milestoneFernando Alonso and Lance Stroll both advanced to Q2 during the qualifying session for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, marking Aston Martin's first double Q2 of the 2026 season. Alonso, who will start the race in 12th place, noted that the team's performance is influenced by the characteristics of the circuit, suggesting that their struggles in previous races may be layout-dependent.
Despite the positive qualifying result, Alonso remains cautious about the race ahead, acknowledging that they may not be competitive enough to secure points. He highlighted the presence of faster cars starting behind them and expressed concerns about losing positions on the straights, indicating that while the team made progress, they still face significant challenges in the race.
Sat 3 Oct · 16:20 UTC
via Motorsport WeekFernando Alonso details Aston Martin ‘miracle’ after shocking Sepang resultFernando Alonso praised Aston Martin's performance at the Sepang Circuit, where both he and teammate Lance Stroll advanced to the second round of qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Alonso achieved a season-best qualifying position of P12, while Stroll qualified 14th, marking a surprising result given the team's ongoing struggles with power deficits this season.
Despite the positive outcome, Alonso remained cautious, noting that the team is still less competitive compared to others. He expressed concerns about losing positions during the race due to the speed of faster cars starting behind them, indicating that while the qualifying result was impressive, the team must remain grounded about their overall performance.
Sat 3 Oct · 14:04 UTC
via RacingNews365Honda send clear message as Aston Martin smash through stumbling blockHonda's trackside general manager Shintaro Orihara acknowledged Aston Martin's achievement of getting both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll into Q2 during the Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying. This marked a significant milestone as it was the first time both drivers progressed beyond Q1 together this season, with Alonso starting from P12 and Stroll from P14.
The result is particularly noteworthy given the challenges faced by Honda and Aston Martin in their first season as a works team. Orihara highlighted the importance of data analysis and preparation in achieving this result, which he described as a positive step forward amidst ongoing integration issues and performance shortfalls.
Sat 3 Oct · 13:55 UTC/GettyImages-2298168619.webp)
via Formula1.comFernando Alonso calls Aston Martin's Bahrain result a miracleFernando Alonso described Aston Martin's performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix as a 'miracle' after achieving a season-best qualifying result. This marked the first time both Aston Martin cars reached Q2 this year, highlighting a significant improvement for the team.
+ 1 moreSat 3 Oct · 12:32 UTC
via PlanetF1Isack Hadjar and Franco Colapinto receive grid penaltiesIsack Hadjar from Red Bull has been given a five-place penalty for using a new power unit element beyond his allocation for the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Franco Colapinto of Alpine faces a 15-place penalty, which includes five places for causing a collision.+ 1 moreSat 3 Oct · 09:23 UTC
via RaceFansVerstappen claims pole position at Bahrain Grand PrixMax Verstappen secured his first pole position of the 2026 Formula 1 season during qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Lewis Hamilton qualified in second place, marking his fifth consecutive front-row start at the Sepang circuit.
+ 1 moreSat 3 Oct · 09:03 UTC
via RacingNews365Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton on Malaysia front rowMax Verstappen of Red Bull Racing and Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes will start on the front row for the Formula 1 race in Malaysia, marking the first event in the country in nine years. Aston Martin also made headlines during qualifying, achieving a significant result this season.+ 1 moreSat 3 Oct · 08:31 UTC
via Motorsport.comLewis Hamilton praises Fernando Alonso's talentLewis Hamilton has expressed admiration for Fernando Alonso following his contract extension with Aston Martin. The seven-time Formula 1 champion described Alonso's skills as 'pure talent', earning Hamilton widespread praise from fans on social media.
+ 1 moreFri 2 Oct · 21:06 UTC
via f1oversteer.comAnthony Davidson left ‘flabbergasted’ after watching Lance Stroll’s onboard camera at SepangDuring the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix practice session, Anthony Davidson expressed his confusion after observing Lance Stroll's unusual driving technique. Stroll's aggressive steering inputs during FP2 left Davidson unable to comprehend the rationale behind his actions, which included multiple steering adjustments before turning into a corner. Stroll ultimately finished the session in 18th place, significantly off the pace set by Charles Leclerc, who topped the timesheets.
Davidson noted that Stroll's driving style resembled that of Fernando Alonso during his successful years with Renault. Despite Stroll's lack of prior experience at Sepang, Davidson found it perplexing that he would employ such an aggressive approach. This incident adds to a pattern of unusual driving styles exhibited by Aston Martin drivers this season.
Fri 2 Oct · 11:00 UTC
via RaceFansAlpine question why stewards did not penalise Lindblad for Baku crash | Formula 1Alpine has raised concerns regarding the decision of the stewards not to penalise Arvid Lindblad for a collision during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. This incident occurred during a Safety Car restart, where Lindblad collided with his teammate Liam Lawson, leading to both Alpine drivers retiring from the race.
In contrast, Alpine's Franco Colapinto was penalised with a five-place grid drop for a separate incident that eliminated his teammate Pierre Gasly and McLaren's Lando Norris. Alpine executive consultant Flavio Briatore publicly questioned the inconsistency in the stewards' decisions, stating he does not understand why Lindblad was not penalised.Fri 2 Oct · 10:10 UTC
via CrashFlavio Briatore moves on from Alpine's Baku disasterFlavio Briatore, the Alpine F1 Team boss, has expressed his disappointment over the team's performance at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix but insists they have moved on. He stated that the events in Baku are now in the past as they prepare for the upcoming race in Malaysia.
+ 2 moreFri 2 Oct · 07:48 UTC
via Motorsport.comFranco Colapinto: "No one" talks about how I receive social media abuse following Baku clashFranco Colapinto, the Alpine driver, has spoken out about the social media abuse he has faced following a collision during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He highlighted that while he has received significant backlash, the issue of online hate extends beyond just his situation and involves fans from various backgrounds, not solely from Argentina.
Colapinto urged for greater awareness among drivers regarding the impact of their words and the need for collective action to address the problem of online abuse. He also mentioned that he is facing grid penalties for his actions in Baku, while Lando Norris, who initially reacted strongly to the incident, later issued an apology.Fri 2 Oct · 06:27 UTC
via AutosportFranco Colapinto faces 15-place grid penalty in BahrainFranco Colapinto of Alpine has been handed a total of 15 grid places in penalties for the upcoming Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix. This includes a five-place drop for taking a new Mercedes V6 engine, alongside additional penalties confirmed by the FIA.
+ 1 moreFri 2 Oct · 05:17 UTC
via gpfans.comFormer Aston Martin boss claims team is slower than F2 cars in grim data verdictOtmar Szafnauer, the former team principal of Aston Martin, stated that the Formula 1 team was slower than every Formula 2 car in a straight line during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He made these comments on the High Performance Podcast, highlighting the team's struggles with their Honda engines and suggesting that financial constraints related to the cost cap might be affecting their development for the 2027 season.
Szafnauer's claim about Aston Martin's performance was based on free practice data, which showed the team lagging behind F2 cars. However, it was noted that the Aston Martins performed better during the race, exceeding the F2 baseline speed. Despite the criticism of the team's current performance, Szafnauer acknowledged that they might be focusing on future developments while managing their budget.
Thu 1 Oct · 19:57 UTC
via f1oversteer.comDamon Hill responds to claims Adrian Newey's Red Bull success 'wasn't all his own work'Damon Hill has come to the defence of Adrian Newey, who is currently facing criticism for his performance at Aston Martin. Hill, who has worked closely with Newey in the past, highlighted Newey's impressive track record in Formula 1, particularly during his time with Red Bull, and expressed confidence that Newey can turn things around at Aston Martin despite the team's current struggles.
Hill also addressed the challenges faced by Honda, the engine supplier for Aston Martin, noting their need for focus and direction to improve their competitive standing. He believes that with the right guidance, Honda can make significant progress, and he pointed out that the current deficit could lead to substantial advancements in the future.Thu 1 Oct · 18:30 UTC
via grandprix.comAlpine brings AI engineering partner into Enstone development workAlpine has entered a multi-year partnership with Apex Ultra to integrate artificial intelligence into the design and development processes of its Formula 1 cars at Enstone. This collaboration aims to enhance the team's engineering capabilities by allowing staff to explore more design options and improve the efficiency of simulation and manufacturing decisions.
Managing director Steve Nielsen emphasised that the goal is to transform how Alpine learns and adapts rather than merely adding new tools. While the initial results suggest significant time savings in engineering workflows, the team must demonstrate that these faster design cycles lead to effective parts that perform well during races, especially against competitors with advanced simulation technologies.
via f1oversteer.comDavid Coulthard tells Aston Martin to ‘be careful’ because Adrian Newey is starting to work magicAdrian Newey is under huge pressure to turn things around at Aston Martin after what has been a dreadful 2026 campaign. After joining the team ...Thu 1 Oct · 13:00 UTC
via Formula1.comNorris apologises to Colapinto for Baku commentsLando Norris has clarified his decision to publicly apologise to Franco Colapinto following his strong criticism of the Alpine driver after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Norris expressed that he wanted to address the situation after initially offering a private apology.+ 1 moreThu 1 Oct · 11:37 UTC
via CrashFernando Alonso explains motivation for Aston Martin stayFernando Alonso has revealed that his decision to continue his Formula 1 career with Aston Martin is driven by a desire to compete at a high level. He expressed that the team's potential and his personal passion for racing are key factors in his commitment to stay until at least 2027.+ 1 moreThu 1 Oct · 10:45 UTC
via gpfans.comF1 champion Fernando Alonso handed career-high payday at the age of 45Fernando Alonso has secured a new contract with Aston Martin that reportedly makes him the highest-paid driver of his career at the age of 45. The deal, which will take effect in 2027, is said to exceed $40 million annually, surpassing his previous earnings at McLaren.
In an official statement, Alonso expressed his happiness about the contract and his commitment to the team. This new salary positions him as the joint-third highest-paid driver in Formula 1, behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, while overtaking other notable drivers like Charles Leclerc and George Russell.Thu 1 Oct · 09:57 UTCPage 1 of 21