After Aston Martin’s bruising nightmare weekend at the Australian Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso has warned that the team’s troubles are far from over.
Mechanical headaches tied to the squad’s Honda power unit left the Silverstone-based outfit Aston Martin scrambling in Melbourne, drastically limiting track time and turning Sunday’s race into little more than a rolling experiment.
And with the next round looming this week in China, Alonso fears the same problems will return to haunt the team again.
While Fernando Alonso provided a brief flash of brilliance at the start of Sunday’s race, jumping from 17th to 10th, the joy was fleeting.
What followed was a series of agonizingly long pit stops – one lasting over 16 minutes – as the team desperately tried to patch together a failing car.
A Weekend of Mechanical Misery
“I think the start and the first two laps were the most enjoyable part of the race,” Alonso said.
“Being P10 for two laps was unexpected, but I think the start is not our problem. While everyone else was struggling for the boost or whatever they had, for us, it was a clean lap.
“Obviously completely out of position, P10, so I fall back to P17, or whatever. And then we have a small issue on data that we have to stop the car.
"And then we think we repaired it, and then we went back out again, and I think another issue appears, so we have to stop the car for the second time.”
The situation was equally grim for Lance Stroll, whose car sat in the garage for an 18-minute stop before he was eventually retired to save what little hardware was left.
When asked if he enjoyed the little racing time he experienced out on the track, Stroll’s assessment was blunt and worried.
“Racing is a strong word!” he said, quoted by Crash.net. “But we went out, we circulated. It was the only session I did all weekend, really. So it was nice to drive around the track a little bit and to get some kilometres in the car.
“The biggest problem is we just don't have any speed, and no reliability. So that's the biggest thing.”
No Improvements Expected in Shanghai
With limited spare battery parts available from Honda, Alonso fears the team may head into next weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix under the same constraints.
“No different, no different,” he said. “For sure, we have the same car, the same power unit next weekend. So I expect another tough weekend. But meanwhile, we cannot give up.
“We need to keep on trying different solutions, especially on the chassis, and try to understand and get better in the package in general. I think we are not optimised in anything yet, because the lack of mileage, so China will be another good opportunity.”
Beyond reliability, the driving experience itself has become a challenge.
“It's not the best feeling driving with this level of vibrations,” he added.
"I think Honda thinks that the vibrations of the battery are reduced since Bahrain, with some of the modifications, but that didn't happen to the chassis yet because they need to isolate the battery in a different way.
“So I think it will take a little bit more time, but we try to do our best and to do as many laps as possible to help the team.”
Searching for Positives Amid the Pain
Despite the difficult circumstances, Aston Martin’s trackside chief Mike Krack bravely tried to strike a cautiously optimistic tone.
“I think today was from a performance point of view, probably not the best day in history,” he said.
“But it was a good day for us as a team, together with our partner in terms of mileage, in terms of reliability. Today was the day where we learned the most so far. And considering what we have had so far, I think this was a good day.”
The decision to retire both cars early was ultimately strategic, designed to protect scarce parts.
“I think it’s common knowledge that we are not rich in any parts, and there wasn't much to gain from where we were, and we took the decision together to preserve the parts,” he added.
Read also: Newey reveals late November shock behind Honda’s woesMeanwhile, the situation surrounding Honda’s battery supply remains uncertain. Shintaro Orihara, trackside general manager for Honda Racing Corporation, offered little clarity.
“I can't say the exact number, how many batteries we have now, but we are pushing hard to get more batteries coming through.”
For Aston Martin, the message heading to Shanghai is clear: survival mode isn’t over yet. And if Alonso’s fears prove correct, the team could be bracing for another weekend where every lap counts – not for points, but simply for progress.
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