19 March 2023 , 13:10
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Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso hopes that himself and team-mate Lance Stroll can both finish ahead of Lewis Hamilton in Sunday's Saudi Arabia Grand Prix.
Alonso finished third at the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend giving Aston Martin their first ever podium. The 41-year-old finished third in Saturday's qualifying session in Jeddah - but moved up a place on the grid after Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was given a 10-place grid penalty for installing two new parts on his car.
Fellow Aston Martin driver Stroll will start fifth on the grid and Alonso hopes the Canadian can maintain his position fending off the likes of Hamilton and Max Verstappen who start further down the grid.
"For us the most important thing is to score points," said Alonso in his post-qualifying press conference. "We are starting both cars in the top five. We will try to finish both cars in the top five and keep accumulating points for the constructors’ championship. That's the main goal for Aston Martin this year."
Last season Aston Martin finished seventh in the constructors' championship but have made huge improvements during the off-season and could challenge much higher up the standings this season.
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Lewis Hamilton will start the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix from seventh on the grid (Getty Images)Alonso is expecting a "very tight race" around the fast street circuit in Jeddah and expects the final outcome to be "defined by small details." The two-time world champion with Renault has sent an ominous warning to Aston Martin's top-five rivals including the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Hamilton.
Alonso hopes Aston Martin can 'maximise their strengths' of tyre management and strategy while also praying that luck is on their side in Jeddah.
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Fernando Alonso finished third in Bahrain two weeks ago and starts second on the grid in Jeddah (Getty Images)"We saw even last year with Checo (Perez) how luck and the safety car can play a big factor here," Alonso added. "So we have to nail all of these points.
"I think as a team we are ready to take care of everything that is in our hands. The car seems to perform well on the long runs. It seems very easy on tyres, as we saw also last year with the old Aston Martin, but also in Bahrain, it seems good.
"So yeah, let's try to maximise our strengths. And hopefully be lucky as well."