Alonso praises 2023’s finest qualifying after finishing fourth

Fernando Alonso, a seasoned Spanish driver, finished fourth in qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix on Saturday despite missing out on the front row.

The Aston Martin driver, who started second in Saudi Arabia and finished on the podium in both grand prix this season, was edged off of first place on the timers by Max Verstappen of Red Bull.

He came in third behind the resurrected Mercedes duo of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, but it was a close race, and the 41-year-old expressed his happiness at the result.

“Because to the fluctuating temperatures and weather, it was occasionally impossible to judge the circuit. Nonetheless, we seemed to get better with each practice, and the car was enjoyable to drive, according to the two-time world champion.

“Overall, I believe it was perhaps our greatest qualifying session thus far this season and our closest distance from first place.

Our race pace looks to be one of our strengths, so we’ll see what we can do tomorrow. Although it will be challenging to pass, the race will be exciting given the chilly weather and many unknowns.

Lance Stroll, a teammate, called the qualifying session “exciting” and will start sixth, between Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc.

“The car was handling nicely, and it’s a wonderful circuit for pushing hard. Despite some difficult circumstances, I believe the club performed well to qualify fourth and sixth, the player stated.

The field is really competitive, so we are lining up well to compete fiercely for the top spots tomorrow.