Fernando Alonso qualified 21st for Aston Martin at the Austrian Grand Prix, with the team occupying the back row for the third consecutive race.
Alonso finished ahead of teammate Lance Stroll in 22nd at the Red Bull Ring on Saturday. The pair were nearly a second behind the Cadillac cars of Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas.
Aston Martin held off on upgrades until later in the summer, while Cadillac introduced floor and sidepod changes that improved pace. Bottas noted the upgrades made the car quicker and more consistent, though tyre degradation remains a concern ahead of Sunday's race in high temperatures.
Alonso highlighted improvements in drivability and energy deployment from practice to qualifying. He said the team continues working at a high level despite the results.
Cadillac encountered reliability issues on Friday, limiting running for both drivers. The team views Sunday's race as a key test for the updates.
