Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso was feeling buoyed by a robust efficiency in observe on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit within the run-up to this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Alonso was second quickest within the daytime first observe, however went on to set the quickest time of day general with a time of 1:28.827s, placing him 0.230s forward of Max Verstappen.
Total it was simply the begin to the occasion that he hoped for, as Aston seeks to recapture its thrilling successes and podium appearances throughout the early races of 2023.
“I really feel good. Clearly it’s solely free observe,” he stated, including he had no sense but about race tempo. “We simply bounce out of the automobile and we’ve to return right here to talk with you, so I do not know!
“It is all the time good to be the quickest in any session, however it’s solely free observe so we are going to hold our ft on the bottom and keep centered on ourselves.
“As we noticed final 12 months and in addition in Bahrain, we’re sooner in free observe than in qualifying. I believe we run completely different technique [compared to the other teams] by way of gasoline masses, engine modes and so forth.
“Not likely any points with the automobile,” he commented. “Set-up potentialities [are] additionally fairly open for tomorrow. However yeah, positively a great Thursday for us.”
Alonso’s group mate Lance Stroll additionally completed on a contented word in sixth place on the finish of FP2 regardless of being proven a black and white flag for a observe limits infringement, having had a scare in FP1 when he made contact with the barrier.
“It’s numerous enjoyable to drive right here, very high-speed. Very thrilling within the automobile so, yeah, it’s cool,” he stated, including that he’ll be seeking to construct on his group’s sturdy opening day.
“We have proven good tempo in each classes and on completely different tyres, however it’s solely Free Apply and there are numerous unknowns by way of the programmes the opposite groups had been working in the present day.
“We’ll look into the information tonight and goal to construct on what’s been a strong begin to the weekend as we transfer in direction of Qualifying.”
©AstonMartin
Gallery: The gorgeous wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers
Hold updated with all of the F1 information through Fb and Twitter
