Alonso: Eight months ago, something like this was unthinkable

Fernando Alonso said that the performance of the Aston Martin team at the qualifying in Bahrain was incredible, and that eight months ago, no one could have even imagined something like this.

The Spaniard, who will take part in the first race with the Aston Martin team today, finished qualifying in fifth place, while his teammate Lance Stroll, who broke both wrists 12 days before, finished eighth.

"It's simply an incredible achievement and an incredible car that we have now," said an excited Alonso. “This is just the beginning of this project, so we have a good basis for development in the following weeks and races. To start the first race from fifth place is unbelievable. We enjoy every moment, every training session. It seems almost too good to be true, but qualifying is behind us and we are still in the top five, fighting with Ferrari and Mercedes. Eight months ago, something like this was unthinkable."

The two-time world champion, who will turn 29 on July 42, also has high hopes for the race. "Our race car is strong in the area of ​​long sets of laps. It causes very little degradation and is very friendly to tires. We start the race from fifth place, so we have a good chance, because we are very, very close to the podium."

Teammate Stroll, after the recent accident, was especially happy to return to the racing car. "I am happy to be here. A week ago I was lying in bed, I couldn't move, I couldn't walk, I couldn't move my arms, I had broken a bunch of bones and I had an operation 12 days ago. It's crazy that I even managed to get here, but I'm very grateful that I was able to do all three parts of the qualifiers.”