Fernando Alonso delivered a frustrated radio message about Honda’s power unit during a difficult Singapore Grand Prix, calling the engine “truly ridiculous” after appearing unhappy with its energy deployment. The Aston Martin driver could manage only 16th place at Marina Bay, finishing a lap down after a far more encouraging result in Malaysia.
The outburst immediately recalled one of the most famous radio messages of Fernando Alonso’s career: his “GP2 engine” criticism of Honda during the 2015 Japanese Grand Prix. More than a decade later, another difficult race prompted fresh frustration with the Japanese manufacturer’s power unit.
Fernando Alonso vents over Honda engine in Singapore
After his strong result in Malaysia, Fernando Alonso was unable to make much progress in Singapore and eventually finished 16th, one lap behind the leaders.
Early in the race, the Aston Martin driver was battling a Cadillac when Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull swept past him. That moment prompted an angry response over the radio as Alonso expressed his frustration with the Honda power unit fitted to the Adrian Newey-designed Aston Martin.
“Ahahah, the energy, this engine is truly ridiculous,” Fernando Alonso said over team radio.
The complaint appeared to centre on the energy available from the power unit as Alonso attempted to defend and compete against the cars around him. Honda’s progress with its Formula 1 power unit has already been an important technical subject this season, with further development work planned at Sakura.
Alonso radio message recalls infamous “GP2 engine” criticism
The Singapore message inevitably evoked memories of Alonso’s famous criticism of Honda during the 2015 Japanese Grand Prix.
At Suzuka that year, during Honda’s troubled return to Formula 1 with McLaren, Alonso compared the Japanese manufacturer’s power unit to a “GP2 engine” over the radio. The phrase became one of the defining moments of that difficult partnership.
This time, the circumstances were different, but the frustration was unmistakable. Alonso laughed over the radio before criticising the engine as he struggled during a race in which Aston Martin was unable to reproduce the level of competitiveness it had shown in Malaysia.
Difficult Singapore race ends with Alonso 16th
Alonso ultimately crossed the line in 16th place and one lap down, completing a frustrating Singapore weekend for the Aston Martin driver.
The result represented a sharp contrast with Malaysia, where he had enjoyed a much stronger outing. At Marina Bay, however, Alonso found himself fighting further down the order and his radio message made clear how unhappy he was with the performance available during the battle.
For Honda, the episode also places renewed attention on a power-unit programme that is still being developed through the 2026 season, with further engine progress and a larger change planned at Sakura.
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