'We are not giving up' – Alonso declares Aston Martin are 'on the right foot’ after strong Sprint Qualifying performance in Brazil

Fernando Alonso was keen to keep motivation high after Aston Martin achieved a strong result in Sprint Qualifying at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, with the Spaniard taking P5 on the grid.

It’s been a frustrating season for the Silverstone-based team as they have struggled for momentum, but they are nevertheless locked in a close midfield battle with three points separating them from sixth-placed Racing Bulls, and Haas a further seven behind.

Aston Martin were undoubtedly the strongest of the three in Sprint Qualifying at Interlagos as Lance Stroll finished two positions behind his team mate, providing them with a great opportunity to bring home important points in the Sprint.

Reflecting on the day, Alonso said: “The car felt good in FP1 – we were P4 and now we are P5, so it definitely seems like we started the weekend in the window of the operation of the car.

“With only one Free Practice, obviously if you start on the right foot then everything becomes easier.

“I think today is a good boost for everyone. We are not giving up, and let’s keep trying every day.

“If it was dry, then it would probably be easier to hold the positions, but we expect a wet Saturday so anything can happen tomorrow.”

With a high risk of rain and wind forecast for the Sprint, the typical order could easily be shaken up, but Stroll admitted that “the plan” among the team is to maintain their hard-fought positions from Sprint Qualifying.

“The car was feeling good and I had some nice laps so I enjoyed it,” the Canadian concluded. “It’s still just Sprint Qualifying so we’ll see tomorrow.”