Alpine driver Fernando Alonso looked set to battle for the top spot in qualifying in Albert Park before a sudden loss of hydraulic pressure saw him suffer a session ending crash. Unable to downshift, the Spanish two-time champion failed to slow the car down for turn 11 and ended his session in the wall.

The Spaniard admits he cannot believe the team's poor run of luck so far this season, believing he had the pace to fight for pole this afternoon. His pace, particularly in the middle sector of the lap where he was quickest of anyone, would suggest his prediction of a front row start may well have been achievable.

“We lost the hydraulics on the car, so we lost the gear change and also the power steering and everything.” Alonso said. “Yeah, I think we could fight for pole position today. We waited many years for that possibility and it’s amazing we have been so unlucky in the first three races of the championship.

“I was doing, I think, probably one of the best weekends in years and it is frustrating now.”

He was on an absolute flyer up until this moment!

No doubt @alo_oficial will be giving it everything to show his pace once again in Sunday's race 💪#AusGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/pPZ30ryPxW

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 9, 2022

Asked if he believed tomorrow’s race could still be a positive for the team, Alonso stated the plan is to fight for points, but seemed dismayed when he admitted he believed a podium could have been on the cards.

“I guess so,” Alonso said, when asked whether a good performance would be possible tomorrow. “I think we will try to fight for some points, but I think a podium was there for us this weekend and we missed another opportunity.”