Fernando Alonso, the Aston Martin driver, expressed his disappointment with Ferrari’s missed opportunity at the Singapore Grand Prix. Alonso, who finished just behind Carlos Sainz, believes that Ferrari should have taken the victory at the Marina Bay Circuit.
Alonso managed to secure four points for eighth place after undercutting Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg during the pitstop window. He found himself in a train with Hulkenberg and Charles Leclerc, who eventually finished fifth. Despite his impressive performance, Alonso acknowledged that he had pushed the limits of his AMR24 throughout the weekend.
When asked if he had maximized his performance, Alonso confidently replied, “Yeah, absolutely.” He noted that finishing eighth was beyond his expectations, considering the challenges he faced with the car’s pace and handling. Alonso admitted that luck played a role in securing points and acknowledged that he could have easily finished lower in the standings.
Reflecting on his performance, Alonso remarked, “We are eighth, two seconds behind a Ferrari. So I don’t know if I can do more.” His assessment highlighted the missed opportunity for Ferrari, whose drivers struggled during the race due to slower competitors and strategic challenges.
Ferrari’s drivers, Sainz and Leclerc, faced setbacks during qualifying, with Sainz crashing at the start of his Q3 lap and Leclerc having his best effort deleted for exceeding track limits. These incidents put them out of contention for victory, despite showing competitive pace in practice sessions. Alonso believed that Ferrari had the potential to win the race based on their performance throughout the weekend.
“The Ferraris were, I mean, they should have won this race, probably. They were the fastest car this weekend,” Alonso stated. His observation highlighted the missed opportunity for Ferrari to capitalize on their speed and potential for victory.
Overall, Alonso’s critique of Ferrari’s performance at the Singapore Grand Prix underscored the importance of seizing opportunities in Formula 1 racing. Despite facing challenges and setbacks, Ferrari had the potential to secure a win, but external factors ultimately hindered their success. Alonso’s insights shed light on the competitive nature of the sport and the fine margins that separate victory from defeat.