Alonso takes P8 after saying Aston Martin was unlikely to score

Fernando Alonso finished eighth in the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, held at Sepang, and scored four points for Aston Martin despite saying before the race that he did not expect the team to score. Team-mate Lance Stroll finished 12th.

Qualifying brought Aston Martin its first double Q2 of 2026: both drivers reached the session on merit, and Alonso had already made Q2 at Hungary earlier in 2026. Formula 1 said their P12 and P14 places on the final grid benefited from penalties for potentially quicker cars. The FIA's final starting grid lists Alonso 12th and Stroll 14th.

Before the race, Alonso expected faster cars starting behind Aston Martin, some with penalties, to come through. He warned that the team might lose places on the opening straights, lack the speed to pass and risk tyre damage.

After qualifying, Alonso said the car had not changed since Budapest and that its competitiveness depended on circuit layout and the number of straights. Stroll said Sepang's fewer straights and extra corners suited the car, but expected Aston Martin to struggle again on circuits with long straights. Honda's trackside general manager and chief engineer Shintaro Orihara called the double-Q2 a step in the right direction for Honda and said the package was working as expected despite the hot, humid conditions.