Alonso crashed towards the end of his first effort in Q3 in Albert Park after going quickes🐷t in the middle sect꧂or.

The Spani🧔ard lost control of his car at Turn 11 after it got stuck in gear, suggesting that ౠit was a hydraulic issue.

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Speaking after the session, Alonso was confident his lඣap would have 🗹been good enough to secure a top three grid position - at least provisionally before the final runs.

“I don’t know, I think it’s something hydraulic because I couldn’t 🍌change gear and the steering became very, very heavy🌄 so I guess we lost the power steering,” Alonso said.

“I don’t know if we could fight for pole because that’s a big thing but for 𒆙sure, top three, I think that lap was enough for top three and we had two sets of new tyres because we saved them in Q1 and Q2. It is so frustrating.”

Since returning to F1 at the start of 2021, Aꦍlonso has often struggled to produce his best in qualifying, usually saving his outstanding performances for race day.

Alonso’s best qualifying performance came at the Qa🐼tar Grand Prix when he qualified fifth. He went🅰 on to finish on the podium for the first time since 2014 on race day at Losail.

Alonso believes Melbourne hasꦡ been his ‘best weekend in years’.

“I don’t know,” Alonso replied when asked if he🤪 might i🧜ncur a penalty because of the damage sustained. “Honestly, right now I don’t care.

“I was probably doing mꦺy best weekend i𒀰n years, even fighting for pole position. Now, whatever it is we will take it.”

How good was Alonso’s lap?

There’s no doubt that Alonso was flying𒁏 in his Alpine and he was up on Leclerc’s provisional pole time.

Leclerc was on top with a 🐻1m18.239s but Alonso was on course to beat it.

Looking at their first runs in Q3:

Leclerc: S1: 26.838, S2: 17.988, S3: 33.413

Alonso: S1: 26.856, S2: 17.753, S3: ??

From the da♛ta, it’s clear that Alonso was on a blistering lap with his middle sector over two-tenths faster than Leclerc♔’s best at the time.

Provisꩲional pole for the two-timeౠ champion might have been a stretch given the Ferrari’s superiority in the final sector.

Upꦑ until Q3, Alonso’s best final sector was only a 34.020s - further evidence that pole position was never really in reach.

It’s likely Alonso would have slotted into second behind Leclerc but then without the red flag, Sainz would have likely taken the prov♎isional pole off his teammate.

Regardless, Alonso was in fine form and was a serious contender for a top four starting posiꦆtion in Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix.

What can Alonso achieve on race day?

Alonso is set to start the race from 10th on the grid but could be subject to penalties should his gearbox or power unit components b🦄e🌃 damaged.

He will b♉e confident of making his w🤪ay through the field given Alpine’s impressive speed, particularly in a straight line.

Before his retirement last time out ♔in Saudi Arabia, Alonso was on course to finish sixth after an intense battle with Alpine teammate Esteban Ocon.

Alonso will no doubt be aggressive as he looks to recover from P10 on the grid so it will be exciജting to see how he progresses in the grand prix.