Fernando Alonso says he had to produce “surprise” overtakes during the Bahrain Grand Prix as Aston Martin was down on straight-line speed compared to its rivals.
Alonso enjoyed a dream debut with Aston Martin, crossing the finish line in third place.
The Spaniard dropped back to seventh on the opening lap, but progressively made his way back up a number of positions during the 57-lap race.
Alonso overtook Lewis Hamilton with an impressive move into Turn 10, while compatriot Carlos Sainz slipped behind him at Turn 11.
The most common overtaking opportunities in Bahrain are at Turns 1 and 4 – but Alonso says he was forced to conjure up something different.
“I think we were not very fast on the straight,” he said. “So, eventually you normally pass into Turn 1 or into Turn 4.
“And I think I pass Lewis into Turn 10 and Carlos into Turn 11. So not the normal places, because we could not match their straight-line speed.
“We had to make some moves in the corners before Turn 10 and Turn 11 and change trajectory, and then get the overtake done.
“I think to Lewis [I] was more playing a surprise move there, because no one overtakes into Turn 10, let’s say.
“And then with Carlos, it was close into Turn 10 again, he closed the door, and then I have a better exit into Turn 11. But, yeah, we need to see that because obviously, we will love to pass just on the main straight like everyone does.”
Alonso now appears to be in possession of the most competitive F1 car he has had for a decade.
In recent years, the two-time World Champion has been competing in the midfield pack with McLaren and Alpine.
Having rediscovered a chance to fight again towards the front of the field, Alonso highlighted that it brings much more adrenaline than competing outside the points.
“I obviously did enjoy them [the battles] because I ended up in front,” he said. “That’s always the same thing in any battle.
“We say it’s always the same, but when you fight at the front, with these great drivers, great champions, it is more intense, more adrenaline when you are wheel to wheel.
“I didn’t want to have any mistake, or any contact because obviously when you are P12, you lose nothing, but today, we were fighting for big things. And yeah, I was happy.
“The car was very nice to drive. That was probably our strength, all through testing. And this weekend, even though the race felt very long, the last 10 laps, because I wanted to see the chequered flag and being on the podium, the car was very good to drive and I could have driven for another hour or something, just alone on track.”
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