Fernando Alonso scores Aston Martin's first points since August with eighth place at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.

Fernando Alonso delivered Aston Martin's best result of the 2026 season by finishing eighth at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, marking the team's first points since August. The Spaniard started from 12th position but made progress through strategic tire choices and race craft to reach the points-paying positions.

Despite starting on slick tires in wet conditions, which initially proved costly, Alonso recovered effectively once the safety car allowed him to rejoin the field. He made steady progress through the order, passing rivals including his teammate Lance Stroll and capitalizing on incidents affecting other drivers.

The result was particularly significant given Aston Martin's difficult 2026 campaign, where both drivers have suffered regular retirements. Alonso joked about the grid reset after several drivers experienced problems, noting that the team never received such assistance during their own mechanical failures throughout the season.

Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack acknowledged the team had made errors with tire strategy but praised their ability to seize the opportunity. He emphasized the importance of grabbing chances when they arise, as the team lacks the pace to finish in the points on a regular basis yet.