Alonso: Aston Martin 'Doesn't Deserve Points' in Mexico GP

Fernando Alonso has frankly stated that Aston Martin 'doesn't deserve points' at the Formula 1 Mexico Grand Prix, a sentiment echoed by their disappointing qualifying performance where Alonso secured 14th and teammate Lance Stroll 19th. This poor showing follows a familiar pattern this season, where promising free practice pace fails to translate into competitive results when it matters most.

Why it matters:

Aston Martin's struggle to convert practice performance into qualifying and race results is a significant concern for the team. Despite bringing in top talent like Adrian Newey, consistent underperformance in crucial sessions threatens their aspirations to climb the F1 grid and challenge for higher positions. Alonso's blunt assessment underscores the team's current challenges at specific circuits.

The Details:

• Qualifying Woes: Alonso qualified 14th and Stroll 19th, a stark contrast to their top-10 finishes in FP2. This pattern of pace degradation from practice to qualifying has been a recurring issue for Aston Martin throughout the season.
• Stroll's Frustration: Lance Stroll expressed his dismay, noting that the AMR25 'generally goes backwards throughout the weekend,' citing a complete lack of grip during qualifying sessions after feeling good grip in practice.
• Alonso's Agreement: Fernando Alonso concurred with Stroll's observations, adding that the team was 'slow the whole weekend.' He highlighted that a P8 finish in Friday practice, compared to their usual P3 or P5, was an early warning sign for a tough weekend.
• Track Specific Struggles: Alonso emphasized that Mexico and Las Vegas were identified as the 'worst tracks' for Aston Martin on paper, a prediction unfortunately confirmed by their performance. He noted a historical struggle at Mexico, humorously exaggerating, "We've been last, I think, in 2023, last in 2024, and now we are struggling in 2025," despite qualifying 13th in previous years.
• Hope for Newey's Influence: Both drivers, particularly Alonso, are looking to Adrian Newey for solutions. Newey, who joined Aston Martin in March, is expected to bring his renowned expertise to address these persistent performance issues, especially in understanding specific track characteristics where the team struggles.

What's next:

Alonso indicated he would be 'aggressive' on the first lap, acknowledging it's their best chance to fight for points given the car's current pace. However, he realistically conceded that without "any anomaly in the race," scoring points would be challenging as they lack the outright pace to be in the top 10 on merit. The team will be hoping for strategic opportunities and favorable race incidents to improve their standing.