Aston Martin has suffered a major setback at the start of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll receiving a combined 45 grid-place penalty after multiple power unit components were changed on both AMR26s.
Fernando Alonso has been handed a 25-place drop, while Lance Stroll faces a 20-place penalty. Both drivers have exceeded their permitted seasonal allocation of several power unit elements, meaning the Aston Martin pair will start from the back of the grid in Baku regardless of where they qualify.
Fernando Alonso receives 25-place Baku grid penalty
According to the FIA’s official power unit information, several new components have been installed on Fernando Alonso’s car beyond the quantities permitted under the regulations.
The two-time Formula 1 world champion will use his fifth internal combustion engine of the season, exceeding the permitted allocation of four. Aston Martin has also fitted Alonso’s fifth turbocharger and ninth power unit ancillary component.
Taken together, those changes result in a cumulative 25-place grid penalty.
Under the Formula 1 sporting regulations, exceeding the allocation of a power unit element for the first time results in a 10-place penalty, while subsequent excess components carry five-place drops. Once the cumulative penalty exceeds 15 positions, the driver is required to start behind all normally classified drivers.
Lance Stroll handed 20-place penalty after four component changes
Lance Stroll has also received a substantial penalty after Aston Martin introduced four new power unit elements on his AMR26.
The Canadian will run his sixth turbocharger, seventh energy store, sixth control electronics unit and eighth power unit ancillary component of the season.
Those replacements produce a combined 20-place grid penalty, ensuring that Stroll will also start the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from the rear of the field.
Aston Martin faces another difficult Azerbaijan GP challenge
The penalties add another complication to what has already been a difficult 2026 season for Aston Martin. The Silverstone team has struggled for both outright performance and reliability, while Honda has continued working to improve the new-generation power unit introduced at the start of the season.
There have recently been some encouraging signs from Sakura, with Honda finding progress with its latest Formula 1 engine development, but the number of components already used by Alonso and Stroll has now created a major sporting consequence in Baku.
The decision to introduce fresh units means both drivers will at least have newer power unit components available for the remaining races, but the immediate price is substantial. Instead of fighting for the strongest possible grid positions on the streets of Baku, Aston Martin will begin Sunday’s race from the back and face the difficult task of recovering through the field.
With Alonso carrying a nominal 25-place penalty and Stroll a 20-place drop, Aston Martin has accumulated 45 grid positions of penalties across its two cars before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix has even begun.
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