After topping FP2 and FP3, Alonso confirmed Aston Martin's giant leap forward by qualifying fifth in the AMR23, just six tenths off polesitter Verstappen, with team-mate Lance Stroll qualifying eighth.
Speaking straight after qualifying, Alonso said his pace was almost "too good to be true" but felt that with Aston Martin's historically stronger race pace he might be able to mount a podium challenge, attacking both Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz who are sharing the second row.
