Fernando Alonso invents new overtakes at Spanish GP: can Aston Martin fix speed woes?

Fernando Alonso demonstrated remarkable creativity in overtaking during the Spanish Grand Prix, compensating for Aston Martin's ongoing straight-line speed challenges.

Alonso openly acknowledged the team's "consistent problem" with speed on the straights, which has hampered their competitiveness throughout the season. "I was expecting more probably from the race," Alonso told media including RacingNews365, reflecting his disappointment with the car's race pace.

Tyre degradation further complicated matters, with Alonso revealing, "We had a lot of front tyre degradation, so the front left was done by seven laps into the stint." This forced him to adapt his driving style and seek unconventional overtaking opportunities.

Highlighting the severity of the speed deficit, Alonso noted, "We lacked top speed, on the straights, we were losing a lot. I didn't make a single overtake on the DRS." Instead, he executed all his overtakes at Turn 3 on the outside, an unusual and challenging spot for passing, stating, "They were all made in Turn 3 on the outside, which is not a normal place to overtake, but we had to invent this kind of moves."

The Spanish GP performance underscores the urgent need for Aston Martin to address their straight-line speed woes to remain competitive in the championship. Alonso's inventive driving masked some of the car's deficiencies, but the team must find technical solutions to improve race pace and tyre management in upcoming events.

Fernando Alonso showcased inventive overtakes at the Spanish GP despite Aston Martin's persistent straight-line speed issues. Alonso lamented front tyre degradation and lack of top speed, making all overtakes outside the usual DRS zones. The team faces pressure to address these performance deficits in upcoming races.