Sun Mar 16 04:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Alonso Starts Australian GP from P12 After Qualifying Setback
**Melbourne, Australia** – Two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso will start Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix from 12th position after a setback in qualifying. The Aston Martin driver progressed through Q1 but suffered floor damage during his first Q2 run, impacting his performance and ultimately preventing him from reaching Q3.
Despite the disappointment, Alonso remains optimistic about Aston Martin’s competitiveness. He attributed the damage to a mistake at Turn 10, stating that while the car wasn’t 100%, P12 was still a respectable result considering the circumstances. He believes that a Q3 appearance was within reach had the damage not occurred.
Alonso also commented on Aston Martin’s morning setup experiment, which proved unsuccessful, resulting in a low P18 position. However, reverting to the previous day’s setup yielded significantly better results in qualifying, demonstrating the car’s potential. He acknowledged the highly competitive field and emphasized the need for improvement to avoid costly mistakes in future races.
Looking ahead to the race, Alonso expressed concern about the predicted heavy rain and its impact on visibility. While acknowledging the challenges, he remains confident that Aston Martin can score points, starting just two positions from their target. He clarified that their aim is not a top-5 finish but to remain competitive within the midfield.
First Piper 