Alonso signals Australian GP danger as rain chaos looms

Fernando Alonso has underlined how critical visibility will be in determining how "fun" the season-opening Australian Grand Prix is.

Rain is forecast for the first round of the 2025 F1 season, which is already underway at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne.

Having qualified P12, the Aston Martin man is on the cusp of his target for the weekend: scoring points.

After getting through Q1 ninth-fastest, a mistake in the second section of the grid-setting session damaged his AMR25, preventing him from progressing further.

Looking ahead to the race, the Spanish driver explained how challenging the race will be if visibility is poor to the extent the drivers are unable to see during the race.

The two-time F1 drivers' champion struck a cautious tone as he shared words of warning about the "biggest question" ahead of the grand prix.

"I think the biggest question is the visibility," the 43-year-old told media including RacingNews365. "If the visibility is okay, I think the race could be fun if it rains.

"But Melbourne is not a straight line. It's always some kind of corner, between [Turns] six to nine, so it could be tricky in terms of visibility. So, it's not good. It's not fun when you drive and you can't see.

"But we are ready, same conditions for everybody. So hopefully we score points. That's the target. We start P12, only two positions away from the target."

Alonso: Australian GP track could become 'like a mirror'

If the anticipated wet weather does arrive, it will pose a considerable challenge for many of the rookies, most of which have yet to drive an F1 car in the rain.

When asked whether his experience would be an advantage, Alonso - who made his debut in 2001 - emphasised the strength of the current rookie crop.

"I prefer to be on that side than on the blind side of experience," he replied. "But they're fast, they are very talented, they are well prepared. So they are tough to beat."

Further compounding the jeopardy is the resurfaced asphalt at Albert Park. Alonso outlined just how treacherous it could prove to be, likening the track to a mirror. 

"It is a very unique tarmac, so it's a question mark in the wet, because when it's so slippery and so smooth it becomes like a mirror and the water stays there for very long," he said.

"Same for everybody, as I said, but we will try to do our best."