Aston Martin had a disappointing qualifying session for the Formula 1 Monaco GP, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll acknowledging the car’s limitations after another difficult day on the streets of the Principality. The team finished the session without showing competitiveness, and confirmed the problems that had been appearing since the start of the weekend.
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The result reflected the difficulties faced throughout all free practice sessions. Both Alonso and Stroll reported a lack of grip and little confidence in the car’s behavior, factors that compromised performance on a circuit where precision and predictability are fundamental.
Alonso, who finished qualifying in 21st position, stated that the situation showed no improvement compared to previous sessions. According to the Spaniard, the expectation of finding better conditions in Monaco did not materialize.
“There wasn’t a big difference compared to yesterday and we simply don’t have the pace. We came to Monaco with some hopes, but we don’t have much confidence in the car and we suffered from a lack of front grip throughout the weekend,” said the two-time champion.
The experienced driver also highlighted that he believes he extracted the maximum possible from the available equipment: “I think I did the best possible laps today with the package we currently have,” concluded the Spaniard.
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On the other side of the garage, Stroll had a similar assessment after ending the session in 22nd position. The Canadian stated that the problems faced by the team remained the same throughout the weekend and that the result was not a surprise.
“We have been facing the same problems all weekend. The car has been difficult to drive, with no grip, so this result was expected,” he said. The Canadian also revealed that several changes were tested between sessions, but with limited results: “We are limited in downforce and power, so it’s not being much fun out there,” he added.
The team principal, Mike Krack, acknowledged that the result in the qualifying session was consistent with the performance shown by Aston Martin in free practice in Monaco. According to him, the team failed to provide the drivers with a predictable car, in addition to facing difficulties in getting the tires into the ideal temperature window.
Even in the face of the unfavorable scenario, Krack still maintains some hope for the race: “We’ll see if opportunities arise tomorrow. Monaco is a long race, with a lot of action, where anything can happen,” concluded the team boss.
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