Alonso got Aston Martin into Q3. Hülkenberg put Audi sixth after missing Friday. Brazil’s rain gave two veterans a chance to show the skill that difficult seasons can obscure.
By Miki | F1Unchained
Nico Hülkenberg spent Friday following his teammate’s running from the garage. Fernando Alonso arrived in Brazil still waiting for his first Q3 appearance of the year.
By Saturday evening, Hülkenberg had qualified sixth and Alonso ninth. Rain had opened up the session, and both had put themselves in position to benefit.
The weather deserves some credit. So do the drivers who made use of it.
Experience doesn’t mean having every answer
Alonso finished seventh in Q2, then headed the queue for Q3 with more rain approaching. His ninth place gave Aston Martin its first appearance in the final qualifying segment this season.
His reaction was revealing. Limited wet running in this year’s cars meant the conditions were unfamiliar even to him. The session required intense concentration and some experimentation.
That’s experience doing something useful: recognizing how much there is still to work out. Decades in F1 don’t tell a driver exactly what this particular car will do on the next wet lap.
Alonso’s consecutive wet poles at Silverstone and Hockenheim in 2012 established his ability in difficult conditions long ago. Brazil provided a current example of his adaptability.
Hülkenberg brought more than pace
Hülkenberg’s preparation had been cut short by a technical problem during Freddie Slater’s FP1 outing. Repairs then kept him out of FP2.
Sixth was a substantial recovery from that lost running.
His first podium, at Silverstone last year, offered a fuller picture of the same driver. He climbed from 19th to third as he and Sauber got their tire changes right through a wet-dry race.
Jonathan Wheatley highlighted his calm radio communication and the questions he asked along the way.
That deserves attention. The driver is supplying information while the team weighs decisions that can change the race. Hülkenberg helped that process while delivering on track.
Now there’s something to race for
The cars, tire choices and timing all contributed in Brazil. Alonso and Hülkenberg still had to produce the laps.
Russell’s five-place and Leclerc’s ten-place engine penalties put Hülkenberg on course to start fourth and Alonso eighth, pending grid confirmation.
It would be awesome to see both turn those opportunities into points. They’re among my favorite drivers, and Saturday supplied concrete reasons to give them credit.
Sunday will bring another test. Their qualifying performances have already earned their place in this weekend’s story.
— Miki
Which impressed you more in Brazil: Alonso getting Aston Martin into Q3, or Hülkenberg putting Audi sixth after missing Friday?
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