Alonso reaches Q3 for first time in 2026 at wet São Paulo qualifying

Fernando Alonso made Q3 for the first time this season as Aston Martin delivered its strongest qualifying performance of the campaign in wet conditions at Interlagos. He was ninth fastest in the session, but will start eighth for the São Paulo Grand Prix after a grid penalty for Charles Leclerc.

The session had been delayed by heavy rain. Once running resumed, Alonso remained in the top half of the field through all three segments, finishing eighth in Q1, seventh in Q2 and ninth in Q3.

Wet conditions give Aston Martin a rare lift

Alonso described the session as demanding, with limited experience of the wet-weather behaviour of this year’s car leaving the conditions unfamiliar for the field. He said the team had little practice on wet tyres, making the qualifying run a learning exercise as well as a chance to fight for position.

Reaching the final segment nonetheless marked a meaningful step for the Spaniard after a difficult season for Aston Martin under the 2026 regulations. A revised car introduced during the campaign has helped its performance, but the source article notes that Honda’s power unit remains short on power and reliability.

Alonso has scored the team’s only points this year, with top-10 finishes in Monaco, the Netherlands and Malaysia. The qualifying result provides a welcome change from the team’s usual position, although Alonso cautioned against reading too much into a session shaped by rain. F1LivePulse has also covered Alonso’s recent progress with Aston Martin.

Alonso sees a points chance only if the rain returns

The two-time champion said the result could create an opportunity in Sunday’s 71-lap race if wet weather persists. In dry conditions, he expects Aston Martin to return closer to its usual competitive level, pointing to a disappointing dry FP3 as a reason to stay realistic.

Starting eighth gives Alonso a better grid position than his qualifying time alone would suggest, but the team’s prospects remain tied to the weather. The Spaniard’s message was measured: the first Q3 appearance of the season is encouraging, yet it does not erase the difficulties that have defined Aston Martin’s campaign. For more on the driver’s career outlook, see F1LivePulse’s coverage of Alonso’s motorsport future.