Fernando Alonso has declared Aston Martin to have "the second best car" in Formula 1 following a debut podium in the Bahrain Grand Prix. Alonso had shown strong pace throughout testing and practice in Sakhir and started fifth, but was embroiled in a strategic race with the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. After a stunning overtake on Hamilton at Turn 10, Alonso then reeled in Sainz to take his 99th career podium and just the second for Aston since their return as a works squad.
Alonso's declaration
"First of all, I think congrats to Lance, my teammate," Alonso said post-race after Stroll finished sixth. "He had the surgery 12 days ago and now he's fighting right with everybody, it is amazing for the team. He was great. "Finishing the podium in the first race of the year is just amazing. "What Aston Martin did over the winter to have the second best car at race one is just unreal." Of the passes on Hamilton and Sainz, Alonso also added that he "would love to start in front of them and use the pace. "Unfortunately, we didn't have the best start today and had to pass them on track, so it felt a little more exciting and more adrenaline for sure, so people enjoyed it."
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