After topping FP2 and FP3, Alonso confirmed Aston Martin’s large leap ahead by qualifying fifth within the AMR23, simply six tenths off polesitter Verstappen, with team-mate Lance Stroll qualifying eighth.
Talking straight after qualifying, Alonso mentioned his tempo was nearly “too good to be true” however felt that with Aston Martin’s traditionally stronger race tempo he may be capable of mount a podium problem, attacking each Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz who’re sharing the second row.
Leclerc expects Aston to “most likely faster than what they’ve proven in qualifying” and subsequently agreed that protecting Alonso behind will current a troublesome problem.
“They’ve proven a really promising race tempo in FP2, however once more, FP2, it is very troublesome to evaluate as a result of you do not know the gas degree they’d within the automotive,” Leclerc mentioned.
“However I feel they are going to be robust within the race, most likely faster than what they’ve proven in qualifying, regardless that they have been fairly shut.”
Even when the fast Purple Bulls are doubtless out of attain, Verstappen was nonetheless cautious of the menace posed by the Silverstone outfit.
“Yeah, for certain, they appear very aggressive,” he added.
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing RB19
Photograph by: Erik Junius
“And I feel already not solely this yr however final yr. Their automotive was possibly not that incredible however I feel in race tempo, they have been at all times fairly robust in comparison with their opponents.
“They most likely took that additionally into this yr, so for certain, they are going to be very aggressive within the race, however a bit troublesome to inform.”
If Aston Martin’s race tempo and tyre administration has traditionally been one in all its robust fits, then the other is true for Ferrari which struggled with tyre degradation all through 2022.
Sainz, who because the fourth-placed starter is the closest goal for Alonso, reckons his compatriot can be not less than “degree or decrease on degradation” than the Ferraris, with Leclerc not less than having the advantage of beginning on a brand new set of tyres in comparison with scrubbed units for Sainz and Alonso.
“It’s true that we beat them in quali, however within the race we count on them to be degree or decrease on degradation than us so it is going to be a troublesome Sunday,” Sainz thought.
“However I at all times go right into a race pondering we are able to win. I understand how to struggle [Alonso] nicely, however it will likely be good enjoyable having him up there.”
When requested if Aston’s true tempo was in any means a shock after dominating paddock dialog since pre-season testing, Sainz mentioned: “We knew. Truthfully, we knew.
“There is not any secret these days in Formulation 1 with GPS knowledge and the way everybody runs the automotive.
“We knew they have been going to be fast.”