Aston Martin Finally Gets Both Cars Into Q2 on Its Best Saturday of 2026

Alonso qualified 12th and Stroll 14th at Sepang, giving Aston Martin its first double-Q2 appearance of the season and both drivers their best qualifying positions of 2026.

For a team that has spent much of the year struggling to escape Q1, Saturday at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia offered a welcome change.

Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll both advanced through the opening session, then secured Aston Martin’s strongest qualifying result of the season. It was Stroll’s first Q2 appearance of 2026 and Alonso’s second, following Hungary.

Both cars through, both drivers at their best

The Aston Martins were separated by just 0.008 seconds in Q1, with Alonso 14th and Stroll 15th. Stroll said the car came together on his second push lap, helping him clear the first hurdle.

Alonso then improved to 1:37.220 in Q2, finishing 12th and 0.406 seconds from the final Q3 place. Stroll’s 1:37.566 put him 14th.

Their progression from Q1 was earned on pace. Their final positions also benefited from Franco Colapinto and Arvid Lindblad choosing not to set Q2 times because of existing grid penalties. Alonso additionally beat Carlos Sainz’s Williams.

A circuit that suits the car

Aston Martin had arrived expecting Sepang to suit its package better than Baku. Pedro de la Rosa outlined that expectation on Friday, while acknowledging that the team still needed to improve the balance.

After qualifying, Alonso said the car was unchanged since Budapest. He attributed the stronger showing to the circuit layout, rather than a new upgrade.

Stroll offered a similar assessment: a greater emphasis on corners gave Aston Martin a better opportunity, while its straight-line weakness remained.

A better opportunity, with limits

Alonso remained cautious about points. He warned that faster cars starting behind could recover positions on the straights, leaving Aston Martin unable to pass them back.

Sepang has given the team a more competitive starting point. Turning that into a race result will require it to protect track position and make the most of the opportunities that follow.