Alonso: I have a huge advantage over the newcomers!

      Fernando Alonso believes that the Aston Martin team managed to make a step forward in working with the car during the winter off-season, but the tests in Bahrain were very short, so they will continue to deal with the AMR25 at Friday's training sessions in Melbourne.

      Fernando Alonso: "In the period after the Bahrain test and before the flight to Australia, we conducted an in-depth analysis of the information collected, and our findings confirm that the team managed to take a step forward in working with the car. There are a number of positive aspects, but now everyone is working very efficiently, and even the teams in the middle of the peloton have pulled up to the leaders.

      At the same time, in Melbourne we will have to compete on a track with a completely different configuration compared to Sakhir, with a very smooth surface, high-speed turns and longer straights. In general, let's see who can adapt their cars faster and better to all these features.

      In Bahrain, each rider spent only a day and a half behind the wheel, so tomorrow's training sessions will be something like a continuation of the winter tests, and then we'll see if we can work well this weekend and get some points."

      The Spanish veteran was also asked about the newcomers to the championship, for example, Kimi Antonelli, George Russell's new Mercedes team-mate, is 25 years younger than Alonso.

      "I think I have a huge advantage over the young people, because I know the Australian track better! Fernando replied cheerfully. – They probably didn't race here in rain conditions, but I have such experience, and precipitation is not excluded on Sunday. I believe that the more newbies come to Formula 1, the better it is for me, because there is a very big difference in the amount of experience between us.

      At the same time, they are all incredibly talented guys who can show great speed. But I don't know exactly what their approaches are, how they overtake, how they act at the start or in some other situations. In general, during the first races of the season, there will be a learning process – this applies to both beginners and us.

      We're gradually getting to know each other better, but we already have a lot of mutual respect."

      A little over a week ago, Adrian Newey joined the Aston Martin team, and Alonso was asked if he had already managed to communicate with the famous designer.

      "Not yet," replied the two–time world champion. – But from what I've heard from Andy Cowell and some of our engineers, Adrian is currently constantly at the team base, holding one meeting after another and getting to know people.

      In general, everything is just beginning, but you can immediately feel how determined he is and with what enthusiasm he intends to start preparing for 2026, when the technical regulations will change in Formula 1. Hopefully, in a few weeks and months, he will begin to work his miracles."