Alonso slams Aston Martin's strategy: ''knew that race was over''

Alonso critical of strategy

Speaking to GPblog and others after Sunday's race, Fernando Alonso was highly critcal of Aston Martin's strategy choices. "The strategy was not optimal," the two-time world champion began. "Very easy to say after the race. The team felt it was a good one.

"A bit surprised when we stopped in lap seven because we talked this morning, our car is hard on tyres normally so if you stop in lap seven there are 63 laps to do with one medium, one hard so it was a challenge from that point. We didn't have the pace and strategy didn't help.

"We spoke this morning we have to even a little bit the stints. If not there is a high price to pay if you do a very long sting with one set of tyres. They called me to box in lap seven or lap eight, I knew that the race was over." Alonso concluded. 

Team orders at Aston Martin 

Whilst one of the biggest talking points of the weekend will arguably be McLaren's team order drama, team orders also came into play for the Silverstone-based team. Alonso let his teammate Lance Stroll through to allow to Canadian to try and attack Tsunoda in front for P9. However, once it became clear that Stroll wouldn't get past the RB, the team asked Stroll to give the position back. 

“Now. You need to switch back before the line, Fernando is four seconds behind you, there’s no pressure behind,” was the first request by Stroll's engineer. The second came shortly after;  “Lance, I suggest you drop back, let Fernando pass. He’s four seconds back.” Both of these were met with silence from Stroll. The Canadian then crossed the line and kept P10 and the final points position for himself. 

For Alonso however, this wasn't a concern. "I didn't care too much. It was one point for the team. It doesn't matter which car takes that point. And I think he was trying until the last corner. I think it was the right thing to do."

When asked to compare his situation to the McLaren's at the front, Alonso said, "The race win is different than P10, P11 but yeah if that was the agreement follow, but it could be frustrating."