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Aston Martin and power unit partner Honda found reasons for encouragement during Friday practice at Mexico City, a circuit where long straights suggested the team might struggle.
Promising Pace Across Practice Sessions
Fernando Alonso opened the weekend by claiming seventh place in FP1. Although that position was influenced by a number of rookie drivers on track and trouble for various competitors, his 1.229-second gap to pacesetter Charles Leclerc offered encouragement as reported by Latest F1 News.
During FP2, Alonso dropped to 12th in the overall order, but his lap time deficit to Leclerc shrank to just 0.769 seconds. This narrower margin marked a significant step forward compared to gaps of multiple seconds seen earlier in the season.
Evaluations pegged the AMR26 as the seventh-fastest machine on track, indicating the package managed the demanding high altitude of Mexico City effectively. However, the other side of the garage faced a tougher outing, as Jak Crawford halted on track in FP1 and Lance Stroll spent FP2 recovering lost time.
Alonso and Team Reactions
Alonso acknowledged that the car’s initial pace had surpassed his pre-weekend forecasts. Asked if the performance exceeded expectations, he told Latest F1 News, “Probably yes. I was very open-minded coming to the weekend because Mexico is such a unique place with altitude and things, that I thought maybe we have a good surprise.”
Alonso added, “At the moment at least on my side of the garage, the car is working well. I think Lance’s car has some issues that they need to check for tomorrow.”
Regarding specific circuit conditions, Alonso noted that the limited downforce levels did not present unexpected difficulties compared to previous visits.
Aston Martin’s Pedro de la Rosa explained to Latest F1 News that the vehicle performed well in the venue’s numerous slow corners. “It’s fair to say it’s slightly better than expected,” de la Rosa stated, pointing out that low-speed sections in the first and final sectors suited the car.
Power Unit and Experience Factors
De la Rosa also discussed the technical demands of the 2,200-meter altitude, noting that engine cooling, brake management, and managing temperatures remained primary considerations rather than turbo lag.
On the power unit performance, de la Rosa said to Latest F1 News, “On the turbo lag, we haven’t had many complaints from the drivers, which is positive. So I think that Honda has done a very good job on the turbo lag, and minimising that effect.”
Reflecting on how the layout suits a veteran competitor, de la Rosa noted that low-downforce conditions allow experienced drivers to adjust quickly, despite differences in grip levels between the track’s older and newer asphalt sections.
Aston Martin will examine data from both cars overnight to prepare for Saturday’s final practice and qualifying sessions.
