Fernando Alonso joked that “there’s a spirit inside the car” after suffering a mysterious spin during the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday. The two-time world champion lost control of his Aston Martin machine, losing two positions in the process, but recovered to finish seventh at the Lusail International Circuit.

The Spaniard ended a run of three Grands Prix without a top-10 finish when he crossed the line in Qatar on Sunday, giving Aston Martin valuable points in their Constructors’ Championship battle with Sauber.

Jonathan Wheatley’s team looked well-positioned to score points themselves with Nico Hulkenberg running inside of the top 10 early on, but the veteran German crashed with Pierre Gasly on lap seven, ending his race early and bringing out the safety car. Now, the two teams are separated by five points heading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Explaining his spin after the race, Alonso engaged in an unusual comparison. “No, I was taking it easy,” he said. “The truth is that I wasn’t pushing 100 per cent, but this car has disconnections, I don’t know what to call them, a bit paranormal, there’s a spirit inside the car.

“Yesterday, I suddenly lost the front end for three or four corners. In one of them, I suddenly went off onto the gravel, turning the steering wheel to the max. It was as if I had no front wheels, and today it was the rear wheels, suddenly a lash.

“So we’re hypersensitive to the wind, hypersensitive to one or two degrees of temperature, we’re always on a knife-edge, and today I made that mistake, but fortunately I was very lucky that there was no gravel, that there was nothing and that I didn’t have a train of cars behind me. There were only two at the time.”

Alonso also confessed his relief over the location of the spin. With grand run-off areas and limited use of gravel traps, the Lusail International Circuit is forgiving to drivers who experience spins. This was demonstrated by Charles Leclerc’s high-speed off during qualifying.

“Definitely lucky with the spin,” Alonso confessed. “Any other circuit, maybe I’d finish on the gravel. Two points yesterday, six today, eight in total in the Qatar weekend. That definitely is exceeding our expectations.

“Really, really happy for the team. A crucial moment in the constructors’ championship. We can go to Abu Dhabi with a little bit less pressure and less weight on our shoulders.”