Fernando Alonso eventually left the Monaco Grand Prix with a place in the points after the stewards completed their post-race investigations, but the final result did little to hide the difficulties that Aston Martin continues to face with the AMR26.
Following the conclusion of the stewards’ reviews, the two-time Formula 1 World Champion was promoted to tenth position after a 10-second penalty was handed to Sergio Pérez. The Red Bull driver was judged to have positioned his car incorrectly in the grid box during the restart procedure following the red flag, allowing Fernando Alonso to inherit the final point available in the Principality.
Although the result represented a small reward for Aston Martin, Fernando Alonso made it clear that the weekend had once again highlighted the limitations of the AMR26 and the challenges drivers face when trying to extract performance from the car.
Reflecting on the race, the Spaniard explained:
“It was difficult because here it’s very easy to end up in the wall. You start 19th, make a mistake and look stupid on television, like I did in FP1 when I hit the wall under braking into the chicane. You can be three seconds slower and still risk making mistakes. It’s not a lack of talent; it’s that the car is very difficult and always on the limit.”
Fernando Alonso also highlighted how Aston Martin’s strategy added another layer of complexity to an already demanding race.
“We stopped on lap three and were ready to go all the way to the end on a tyre that had to last 50 or 60 laps. Driving such a difficult car on a tyre that worn out adds another level of difficulty. The red flags and the various interruptions helped make the race a little more manageable, and we tried to do our best.”
The Monaco Grand Prix proved equally challenging for his teammate Lance Stroll, who was among the drivers involved in an incident at Turn 19, one of the most problematic sections of the circuit and an area that later became the focus of additional scrutiny.
Fernando Alonso explained that the warning signs had been visible from the very beginning of the race.
“It started very early. I thought it was just dirt on the track surface at the end of the circuit, the usual debris, so we tried to stay on the inside line all the time. But at some point it was everywhere, so it wasn’t surprising to see several accidents.”
While Aston Martin managed to leave Monaco with a valuable championship point, Fernando Alonso’s comments underline that the Silverstone-based team still has significant work to do if it wants to move closer to the front of the Formula 1 grid. The AMR26 remains a difficult car to drive consistently, and upcoming races will be crucial in determining whether Aston Martin can address the weaknesses that continue to limit its competitiveness.
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