Alonso finishes 19th as Stroll retires in the Belgian Grand Prix
Spa FrancorchampsThe Belgian Grand Prix, Round 10 of the Formula 1 season, took place at Spa-Francorchamps
Lance Stroll started from P20 but was slightly slow away, allowing Fernando Alonso past on the left and Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) on the right before Turn 1, dropping him to the back of the field.
George Russell (Mercedes) and Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) then made contact on the Kemmel Straight. Russell spun into the gravel, prompting the deployment of the Safety Car (SC). Several drivers pitted under the SC, and Alonso and Stroll took the restart on Lap 5 in P15 and P16.
Immediately after the restart, Oliver Bearman (Haas) passed Stroll at Turn 1 before also overtaking Alonso on the Kemmel Straight. Stroll then passed Alonso at the end of the straight, reversing their positions.
At Turn 1 on Lap 7, Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) overtook Alonso, dropping him to P20. Bottas then challenged Stroll, but Stroll covered the inside line at the final chicane to retain the position. At Turn 1 on Lap 8, the pair entered the corner side by side, with Stroll holding the outside line and accelerating better on the exit to remain P19 through the steep climb at Eau Rouge. However, Bottas passed him on the following Kemmel Straight.
Alonso overtook Stroll on the Kemmel Straight on Lap 9, reversing their positions once again. Stroll pitted on Lap 18 to switch from Hard to Soft tyres, but returned to the pits and retired on Lap 25 with a suspected gearbox problem.
Alonso made his second pit stop on Lap 33 and switched to Hard tyres. He continued to the finish and took the chequered flag in P19.
We did our best today, but we knew our limitations this weekend. We collected some valuable data for the team and are now focussed on Budapest. We will need to maximise all of our practice sessions next weekend and learn as much as we can about the new package.
We did our best today, but we knew our limitations this weekend. We collected some valuable data for the team and are now focussed on Budapest. We will need to maximise all of our practice sessions next weekend and learn as much as we can about the new package.
Our pace was pretty much where we expected it to be today. We knew this track was always going to be difficult for us and it was a tough race from the start. Towards the end I started to feel something with the gearbox, so we retired the car to investigate it. Hopefully we can be a bit more competitive in Hungary and have a stronger weekend there.
Our pace was pretty much where we expected it to be today. We knew this track was always going to be difficult for us and it was a tough race from the start. Towards the end I started to feel something with the gearbox, so we retired the car to investigate it. Hopefully we can be a bit more competitive in Hungary and have a stronger weekend there.
It was not an easy afternoon and we did not have the pace to compete. So we simply tried to maximise those things in our control - being strong operationally and delivering the best strategy. Fernando completed the race in P19, while Lance reported a car issue on lap 25 and retired. The focus now shifts to Budapest and introducing a new package for the AMR26.
It was not an easy afternoon and we did not have the pace to compete. So we simply tried to maximise those things in our control - being strong operationally and delivering the best strategy. Fernando completed the race in P19, while Lance reported a car issue on lap 25 and retired. The focus now shifts to Budapest and introducing a new package for the AMR26.
The Belgian Grand Prix marks the last weekend before upgrades are coming onto the cars over the next two races.
We are leaving this event where again we can only take learnings from the situation and move on together with Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team.
The Belgian Grand Prix marks the last weekend before upgrades are coming onto the cars over the next two races.
We are leaving this event where again we can only take learnings from the situation and move on together with Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team.
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