Fernando Alonso Calls Aston Martin's Sepang Qualifying Result a 'Miracle'

Aston Martin achieved a surprising double-Q2 appearance during qualifying at the Sepang Circuit, with Fernando Alonso securing a season-best P12 finish while teammate Lance Stroll took 14th place. The result came shortly after the team confirmed both drivers would remain with the squad through 2027.

The performance was unexpected given the ongoing power deficit faced by the Aston-Honda partnership this season, which has made high-speed tracks particularly challenging. Despite Sepang's extreme high-speed profile, the AMR26 delivered a strong display and easily cleared the benchmark set by back-of-the-field rival Cadillac.

Speaking after qualifying, Alonso downplayed the significance of the result and urged the team to remain realistic. He noted that several faster cars starting behind them due to grid penalties would likely push through strongly during the race.

Alonso explained that the team risks losing multiple positions on the straights during the opening laps due to a lack of straight-line speed. He added that being unable to overtake competitors on straights damages the tires, making their current ability to fight against much faster cars feel like a miracle.