Alonso Breaks Points Drought in Spain Amid Car Performance Concerns

Fernando Alonso finally secured his first points of the 2025 Formula 1 season at his home race, the Spanish Grand Prix. The Aston Martin driver finished ninth in Barcelona, providing a much-needed boost for both himself and the team after a challenging start to the year. The Spaniard's weekend saw mixed fortunes. While he qualified strongly on Saturday, Sunday's race proved more difficult. Alonso lost ground off the start line and later suffered an excursion through the gravel at Turn 5, costing him positions. He initially struggled to make progress while battling in the midfield outside the points. The race dynamic shifted late on with the deployment of a Safety Car. Alonso was among those who pitted for fresh tyres, a strategic decision that allowed him to gain ground in the closing laps. This late charge enabled him to climb into the top ten, ultimately inheriting ninth place following a post-race penalty for Max Verstappen. Reflecting on the result, Alonso expressed his happiness at scoring points, especially in front of his enthusiastic home crowd. However, he also highlighted a significant limitation of the AMR25 car: its straight-line speed. This deficit made overtaking particularly challenging on the Barcelona circuit, forcing him to attempt ambitious moves in less conventional places. Alonso noted that the car felt more competitive during Saturday's qualifying session compared to the race, acknowledging the inherent difficulties of managing tyres and following other cars closely at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Despite the race difficulties, he views the points finish as a crucial turning point. The two-time world champion is now focused on building momentum from this result as Formula 1 heads to Canada. He also sent well wishes to his teammate, Lance Stroll, who was unable to compete in Spain on medical advice, expressing that the team missed his presence over the weekend.