Honda engine problems for Fernando Alonso and great anger: “The frustration is unimaginable, but this is the story of the year. We have lost a great opportunity”
Jug of cold water for Fernando Alonso. The Asturian driver had to stop his car in the middle of the qualifying session for the 2026 F1 Mexican GP, in Q1, after suffering a breakdown in his car. It happened precisely in the Grand Prix in which his Aston Martin AMR26 He was leaving better feelings, in which he had more weapons to fight for a good position in the classification that would allow him to aspire to get closer to Q3 and the Sunday points.
However, a new problem with the Honda engine affected the Spaniard with 11 minutes left in the first part of the ‘qualy’. Alonso himself confirmed it in statements to the official F1 television. They asked him about the problem he had suffered. “Engine,” was his response.
He then began to respond in monosyllables. They told him he had missed a great opportunity this weekend. “It was.” And they asked him if the car was really good this weekend. “Correct,” he responded, making his anger clear. So, they asked him if he could have a good race this Sunday starting from the back of the grid. “No, not from behind,” he added.
Then, before the written press, as ‘The Race’ published, the man from Oviedo explained: “We’ve missed a great opportunity. So, yes, the frustration is unimaginable, but this is the story of the year.”
I don’t have any damage. You tell me to stop, but I’m almost at the pit lane entrance
The moment you suffered the problem
“I don’t have any damage. You tell me to stop, but I’m almost at the entrance to the pit lane,” Fernando Alonso told his engineer, asking to be able to take the car at least to the pits so that they could check the damage there with the aim of being able to return to the track.
“Stop the car now, stop the car now”they told him clearly after it was seen that moments before, some smoke came out of the Oviedo car. Fernando Alonso made clear angry hand gestures. A golden opportunity to qualify higher than usual this year was going to waste.
It’s a shame. There are Grands Prix that if this happens to you, it is a trick, but in this one, it is a super trick, because it was the one in which we looked the strongest after Free Practice 1, 2 and 3.”
“There are Grands Prix that if this happens to you, it’s a trick, but in this one, it’s a super trick, because it was the one where we were strongest after Free Practice 1, 2 and 3,” said the Aston Martin ambassador, Pedro de la Rosa, on ‘DAZN’, reiterating that it was a “pity” that this happened to Fernando on a circuit where he could go for his best result of the year.
Fernando suffered the problem just after his first Q1 attempt, still having gas in the car to make another lap.
The man from Oviedo had started the session on a very good foot. When the track was still green, dirty and complicated, he exhibited his great ability to adapt to the asphalt by setting a time that surpassed by four tenths the cars that in theory were in the same battle, such as Bearman’s Haas. He even added six tenths to Hülkenberg (Audi). And he was preparing to improve, but a new breakdown prevented him from doing so. He will have to start from behind this Sunday.
