F1 News: Fernando Alonso Delivers Damning Verdict After Austin GP Q1 Exit

Fernando Alonso's Q1 exit at Austin GP is attributed to traffic issues and a challenging morning session, marking the end of his consistent Q3 streak this season.

After an unexpected early departure from the Qualifying session for the Austin GP, Fernando Alonso voiced his frustrations regarding the team's performance. The racing veteran faced challenges, particularly with traffic management and car development setbacks.

Key Takeaways:

• Alonso's lap was impeded by ill-timed traffic, causing him to initiate his lap too closely behind other cars. The compromised start made it challenging to advance to Q2.
• A dismal morning session saw teammate Lance Stroll completing 5 laps and Alonso executing merely 6-7 quality laps. The unfamiliarity with the new package contributed to their lacklustre qualifying performance.

In a post-qualifying interaction with the media, Alonso spoke about the specifics of the troublesome session which has left him qualifying in 17th position for the race on Sunday. He said:

“No it was the maximum. The lap was not ideal – the out lap especially the traffic was very bad to manage. I think I crossed the line within one second of the limit, so I started the lap too close to the cars in front. So that didn’t help but that lap felt OK, and the pace was maybe not good enough to get into Q2.”

Alonso's mood appeared heavy as he recollected the day's challenges. 

"Starting from the morning we had a terrible session. Lance didn’t complete any laps, I only did six or seven quality laps with the new package." 

He described the team's entry into qualifying as "blind," a result of the many unknowns they faced while adapting to the new package.

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Offering a poignant remark on their current situation, Alonso stated:

“So nothing we can do now, we are in parc ferme.

“We use these weekends as a test for next year as well, even if they are painful, so let’s see what we can learn in the remaining sessions.”

Alonso's exit from Q1 is particularly jarring given his consistent performance throughout the year. This Austin GP Q1 exit broke his streak of reaching Q3 in every qualifying session this season.