Fernando Alonso targets clean Abu Dhabi GP: ‘Don’t want to be in the news on Monday’

The Aston Martin driver was delighted with a surprise P6 in Abu Dhabi, joking he’ll follow the Verstappen–Norris–Piastri title fight on the circuit’s screens

Fernando Alonso will line up sixth on the grid for the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, so the wide smile that spread across his face as he talked to the media came as no surprise. While his expectations aren't too high, he's looking forward to enjoying the show from behind the wheel while keeping out of trouble.

After a challenging start to the weekend, the Spaniard's qualifying pace came as a surprise.

“Yeah, I'm very, very happy. A little bit unexpected, to be honest, P6,” Alonso said after qualifying. “We had some concerns about this layout, you know, all the low speed has been our weakness the whole season.

"We came here not very confident about the performance in Abu Dhabi. Yesterday the car felt not great, to be honest, a lot of understeer, a lot of problems in the slow speed corners. We changed the set-up overnight.

"We've been brave with some of the experiments that we tried overnight and this morning the car felt good. So, we kept that set-up for quali and honestly, the car was more competitive than expected. So, I'm happy for the team.”

This overnight gamble not only transformed the two-time champion's qualifying pace but should also make Sunday's grand prix more manageable.

"With yesterday's car, we could not turn into the corners. So, now we can turn the corners. So, it will help not to crash,” he grinned.

While fans of the championship will be focusing on the fight between Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, Alonso admitted he hadn't thought about the strategy that could be in play between them - something that could include the Dutchman backing up the front of the pack.

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

“I didn't thought about that!" he laughed. "Yeah, who knows? That's interesting. I mean, I didn't thought about that. Now, I have something to work tonight,” he said. “Sometimes even if he slows down, it's still not enough for us to catch him.

"So, he needs to slow down a lot. But, yeah, we will try to do our race and if the strategy is open for more different things, we will try to react. You know, obviously, our race is with Haas and Sauber for the constructors' championship.

"There is no other incentive for us tomorrow and we will try to control that.”

What he will be doing is keeping an eye on the fight from the screens dotted around the circuit.

"It's a very easy circuit," he smiled. "Turn 3, you have a screen that is in the middle of your view. Turn 5, you have a screen on the inside. Turn 7, on the outside. Turn 9, there are two. One on entry, one on exit. So, plenty of screens!" he laughed. "I mean, tomorrow is going to be a fantastic show for us.”

As he watches the drama, he hopes he won't become part of it.

"I hope to be as far as possible from the fight. Well, not too far because I want to win the points. But, yeah, not in the news on Monday.”