With 22 races completed Formula 1 arrived in the Gulf State of Qatar for the penultimate round and in the middle of the final triple-header of the season. There were going to be a number of distinctive aspects to the race weekend. Firstly, it would include the final Sprint weekend of the season. Secondly, following analysis of the tyre punctures during last year’s race and the abrasive nature of the track, as well as the heat, the FIA and Pirelli mandated that a maximum 25-lap tyre stint rule would apply in Sunday’s race, forcing teams to factor in at least two tyre changes and creating one of the most strategically unusual races on the calendar. Lastly, at the front of the Driver’s Championship, the title remains finely poised, with Norris, Piastri and Verstappen separated by less than one race win of points, and Norris, theoretically being able to clinch the title.
For the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One team their major news was that Adrian Newey was confirmed as Team Principal from 2026, succeeding Andy Cowell — a landmark announcement that inevitably shaped the pre-race narrative throughout the Paddock. The move came about through the realisation that Newey's unquestionable design expertise and long experience - having won 12 drivers' and 13 constructors' championships with Williams, McLaren and Red Bull - made him the de facto authority in the team. It also quelled the rumours that Christian Horner was a candidate to join the team. Aston Martin needed to rebound after the point-less outing in Las Vegas and to attempt to end the weekend strongly before the final round in Abu Dhabi. There were still 58 points available and with RB, Haas and Aston Martin separated by just a dozen points everyone was mindful of how much every single one mattered.
Free Practice
Both Aston Martins headed out early for the sole practice session, so as to maximise track time. Alonso eased into the session with a slow initial lap before immediately setting impressive pace and placing himself P3, while Stroll settled into P13. At the halfway stage the pair were P4 and P13 respectively, with Alonso returning to the garage for setup adjustments and Stroll’s mechanics briefly attending to his car. As the track began to evolve and maybe with the benefit of the adjustments, both drivers improved - Alonso climbed to P1 with eight minutes remaining and Stroll also moved up to P5. At the chequered flag, Alonso finished impressively, in P3, behind only the McLarens, and Stroll was classified in P9, after Russell had a lap time deleted.
Sprint Qualifying
Again, both Aston Martin’s were among the first on track for Sprint Qualifying, with Alonso immediately settling into P3. Stroll, however, was struggling to get clean laps together and could only place himself in P15. As grip improved, Alonso briefly moved to P1 with less than two minutes remaining, ultimately progressing safely into the next round, having finished in P2, while Stroll was eliminated – he finished down in 16th place. In SQ2, Alonso bided his time and waited for track evolution before heading out midway through but he only went P7. His final attempt was compromised by three cars impeding his progress while on a fast lap, but he still secured P9, advancing into the top ten shootout. In SQ3, Alonso completed a much improved opening run and went to P4 before the times tightened up. On his final effort he placed himself P3 but was eventually displaced by Russell and finished in P4, securing his strongest grid placing of the season, starting on the second row, alongside Championship leader, Norris. Piastri claimed pole position for the Sprint.
Sprint Race
Prior to the Sprint race the team decided to implement some changes to Stroll’s car, which breached parc fermé regulations and meant he would have to start from the pit-lane. Fortunately, he wasn’t the only one and in the end he would line up to head on track 17th. No such fate for Alonso though and although he started 4th when the lights went out, both Red Bulls immediately passed him and dropped him to 6th after just a couple of corners. Stroll stayed out of trouble and finished lap 1 in P17, although with Hamilton closing up on him. Alonso also faced pressure early on and had Antonelli within DRS range behind him and threatening. At the halfway stage, lap 10, it was very much status quo but with both Aston Martin’s fighting hard to keep their places. Stroll had the benefit of getting to within a second of Hülkenberg ahead but just couldn’t get past him. Alonso had no such assistance and 3 laps later he ran really wide before getting onto the main straight and Antonelli was able to get alongside and past, using his DRS to the fullest extent. However, ahead of them both, Tsunoda had repeatedly exceeded track-limits which earned him a five-second penalty. This potentially presented Alonso with an opportunity, though he struggled to close the required gap. Then, unusually in a Sprint race, Stroll was called into the pits for a tyre change on lap 14 and he rejoined in last place - the change later confirmed as a plan to give Stroll early running on soft tyres ahead of Qualifying. Further up the track Alonso was dropping back from Tsunoda by more than 5 seconds, and was also falling behind Antonelli, who had also been shown the black and white flag for exceeding track limits too many times and he was handed a 5-second penalty. Alonso eventually crossed the finish line in 7th, not able to advance, even though the two drivers ahead of him started behind him and each collected 5-second time penalties. Alonso did secure 2 valuable points though and as both the Haas cars didn’t score any points this put Aston Martin back into 7th place in the Constructors’ Championship. Stroll finished 19th. Piastri won, ahead of Russell and Norris.
Qualifying
Qualifying began with both Astons keen to bank early laps and Alonso was once again on the limit from his very first lap - setting purple sectors times and briefly going P1 before being displaced by Russell and Piastri. He did regain P2 on his second run. Stroll seemed safe in P9 initially, but as the round went on the times dropped and he fell to P19, never improved and was eliminated. Alonso, meanwhile, had dropped down to P10, went out for his final runs and improved to P6, but finished in P10 and went through to the next round. In Q2 Alonso set another competitive opening lap from the get-go, going P5 (which was upgraded to P4 after Norris had a lap time deleted). As the session evolved, he dipped to P7, before he went out for his final laps, securing progression to Q3 by finishing in P6. In Q3 Alonso commenced his assault with 8 minutes remaining and was just able to secure P7 on his first flying lap when proceedings were red flagged after Leclerc had a big spin and deposited a lot of gravel onto the track. After the restart and with 3 minutes left, Alonso went out for his final laps, completed his effort and finished P8. Many drivers abandoned their final laps as the track wasn't improving, as a result of the earlier stoppage the track had cooled down too much. The 3 championship contenders, Piastri, Norris and Verstappen locked out the top 3 positions for the championship showdown.
Race
Prior to the 57 lap race we learned that Stroll would start from P18 as Bortoleto would have to serve the 5 place grid penalty for dive-bombing Stroll on the opening lap in Las Vegas. Both Aston Martins selected hard tyres to run the full length of the mandated maximum 25-lap stint. When the 5 red lights went out Alonso got good traction and positioning and gained two places and was up to P6 on the opening lap. Stroll avoided any contact and maintained P18. At the front, Verstappen passed Norris to slot into P2 while Piastri pulled out a lead. Alonso settled into his stride but although he was within DRS range of Sainz ahead of him, Russell was within a second behind Alonso. Lap 7 brought the first incident of the race when Hülkenberg and Gasly touched, resulting in Hülkenberg flying off track and then colliding back into Gasly – this brought out the Aston Martin Vantage Safety Car. As this was just inside the window which would allow drivers to run the remaining 50 laps with only the need for one more pit stop, the majority of the drivers came into the pits for a change of tyres. Crucially though, the McLaren drivers did not come in, believing that they had the raw speed to carry on and regain places later in the race with the benefit of fresh tyres. Stroll also did not pit. Alonso rejoined in P7, as Ocon didn’t pit immediately but he had to anyway as he had to serve a five-second penalty for a false start, which restored Alonso to P6. The race resumed on lap 10 and over the next 5 laps Alonso drifted further behind Antonelli and came under pressure from Hadjar from behind but maintained position as a train stretched out behind him. As Stroll hadn’t come into the pits during the safety car period, he gained a couple of positions and was running in P16. Concerningly though, he was under investigation for a yellow flag infringement just before the safety car was deployed but by lap 20 the Stewards decided no further investigation was necessary. Right on cue, by lap 25, the leading McLarens, as well as Stroll, had come into the pits for their mandatory tyre change, Stroll coming out 19th (i.e. last) and Norris inches ahead of Alonso going into the first turn at the end of the pit lane. Verstappen took the lead of the race. No sooner was Stroll on track that it was announced that he was under investigation for speeding in the pit lane and a lap later he was given a 5 second penalty for the offence. At the halfway stage, lap 29, Alonso was holding firm in P6 and was out of Hadjar’s DRS range until the second round of stops started on lap 32, when he rejoined in P7. During this round of stops Stroll climbed up to P11 and Piastri retook the race lead. When Ocon came in for his 2nd pit stop it elevated Alonso back to P6 and Stroll, temporarily, to P10. Behind Alonso, Hadjar closed steadily and slotted in and out of DRS range from lap 36 but on lap 42 the pressure began to bear on Alonso, who had an uncharacteristic 360 degree spin on track whilst trying to defend, lost 2 places and dropped to P8. On lap 50, slightly earlier than they needed to, the McLaren pair came in for their final pit stops, which handed the lead back to Verstappen. With 10 laps to go Alonso was still holding P8, but with Leclerc hovering within a second of him and Stroll was still in P10. However, Stroll came into the pits for his second mandatory pit stop and to serve his penalty, which relegated him to P18. In the final laps, Leclerc slid off track and lost time to Alonso and Hadjar suffered a puncture which allowed Alonso to move up to P7, which is where he finished and scooped some points. Stroll finished well outside the points, 18th (elevated to P17 after a penalty for Bearman). Verstappen won the race, ahead of Piastri and Sainz, which put him ahead of Piastri in the Drivers’ Championship and just 12 points behind Norris as they head into the final round in Abu Dhabi.
Reflections and Post Race Comments
A strong weekend from Alonso, scoring 8 points in total helped strengthen Aston Martin’s hold on 7th place in the Constructors’ Championship. The early Safety Car dictated the strategy for the majority of the grid and limited the team’s options. Apparently, there was a radio transmission issue with Stroll, limiting the ability to speak with him. Despite that, speeding in the pit lane didn’t help his cause. After the race, Alonso was in buoyant mood, commenting, “Two points yesterday and six today exceeded our expectations for this weekend. After the early Safety Car, we committed to the two-stop strategy along with everyone else. We didn’t have the pace to fight ahead tonight. We got a bit lucky with the DRS train of cars and with how difficult it is to overtake here. We also got a bit lucky with the spin mid-race, because on another circuit maybe I would have ended up in the gravel. The points are a welcome boost in the battle in the Constructors’ Championship as we head into Abu Dhabi.” Stroll was clearly less so, “We started from P18 today and finished P17. It was always going to be challenging gaining back positions at this track so we tried something different with our strategy today and undercut so that we could have the opportunity to make up ground later in the race in case of another Safety Car, which sadly never came. We look to Abu Dhabi now in a week’s time and hope we can be more competitive there.”
Well done to the team and the focus is now on the Grand Finale in Abu Dhabi to determine who will win the Driver’s Championship.