MANAMA—Fernando Alonso hailed the performance of his Aston Martin as “too good to be true” after qualifying fifth for his first race with the team at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
The double Formula One world champion and veteran of 355 races was also fastest in second practice on Friday and Saturday’s final session.
The Spaniard, now 41, joined Aston Martin from Renault-owned Alpine at the end of last season when five-times champion Sebastian Vettel retired.
“The whole weekend has been unreal for us,” Alonso told reporters after a floodlit qualifying that saw Red Bull sweep the front row, with champion Max Verstappen on pole, and Ferrari fill the second row….