Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso has labelled F1 and Pirelli's 'Alternative Tyre Allocation' trial "a disaster". The trial sees teams attack the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend with 11 sets of tyres per car rather than 13, with Hard tyres stipulated for Q1, Mediums for Q2 and Softs for Q3. Drivers and teams were forced to reevaluate practice programmes and tyre preparation to ensure they made the most of the provided allocation. The result was a mixed-up qualifying order and improved sustainability for the Italian tyre manufacturer, but practice running was reduced. Mercedes, for example, used only one set of Medium tyres across Friday for both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. Casting his opinion on the trial, Alonso told media including RacingNews365 : "I think it was a disaster to see cars not running in free practice because we are saving tyres. "It didn't add anything to the show and I feel sad for the spectators that paid for their tickets for Friday - FP1, FP2 and FP3 - and cars don't have the tyres to run."
Not a great qualifying
A mixed-up grid sees Lewis Hamilton on pole position ahead of Max Verstappen and both McLarens, with Alonso down in eighth. The Spaniard was usurped by both Alfa Romeo drivers but insisted there was nothing wrong with his session. "I was happy with the car," explained the two-time F1 champion. "The gap between us and pole position has been four or five-tenths, it was four-tenths [here] so a normal qualifying for us but obviously with seven cars between us. "So even if it was a normal qualifying, result-wise, not a great qualifying."
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