Fernando AlonsoPlayer·Fernando Alonso's participation in the Canadian Grand PrixCompetition·Canadian Grand Prix two weeks ago was cut short after just 23 laps, a direct consequence of the considerable discomfort he has been experiencing within his Aston Martin challenger. The two-time world champion later revealed that his issues stem from an suboptimal seating position in the cockpit of the AMR26, a design choice made to lower the car's center of gravity and enhance aerodynamic performance.
Beyond the seating position, the AMR26 has faced other challenges. Early in the 2026 season, severe vibrations from the new HondaTeam·Honda power unit caused numbness in Alonso's hands and feet, contributing to retirements in races such as Australia and China. While HondaTeam·Honda has reportedly mitigated the most critical of these vibrations, a new issue related to the gearbox emerged following the Miami Grand Prix.
Aston Martin has been diligently working to address these concerns. Significant efforts were undertaken before the Monaco Grand PrixCompetition·Monaco Grand Prix, with the team's track director, Mike KrackCoach·Mike Krack, indicating a positive step forward. "We worked with him from Tuesday morning, so we put a lot of effort in on Tuesday with all sorts of variations. Now comes the real test – driving, because we see that the problem is not always the same. But I think we have made a small step in the right direction," stated Mike KrackCoach·Mike Krack. He further elaborated on the complexity of the adjustments, noting that changes to the seating position necessitate corresponding modifications to elements like the pedals and steering wheel distance to comply with regulations.
Alonso himself has characterized the situation as a "fundamental problem," one that impedes the team's recovery efforts in the 2026 season, linking it to both the HondaTeam·Honda power unit's deficit and the overall aerodynamic package. He anticipates more substantial improvements only after the summer break. Despite the ongoing difficulties, Alonso remains motivated and has not indicated any consideration of retirement, expressing confidence in the team's ability to overcome these hurdles.
The season has proven challenging for both driver and team. Fernando AlonsoPlayer·Fernando Alonso currently sits in 21st or 22nd place in the 2026 Drivers' Championship with zero points after four rounds, having secured a best finish of 15th. He has completed only two of the first five Grand Prix. Aston Martin also occupies the last position in the Constructors' Championship, also with zero points. The team has been plagued by reliability issues, with both cars failing to finish in Australia and China, and recorded the fewest laps during pre-season testing. The AMR26 is powered by the HondaTeam·Honda RA626H power unit.
Fernando Alonso drives his Aston Martin F1 Team AMR26 Honda at the F1 Grand Prix of Canada. (ZUMA Press Wire/IMAGO)
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