Fernando Alonso has expressed cautious optimism about Aston Martin’s performance at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, believing the AMR26 is closer to its rivals than at several previous races. However, Friday’s practice sessions also exposed technical concerns, with a battery problem limiting Jak Crawford’s running in FP1 and Lance Stroll struggling with a car that proved difficult to drive.
The opening day at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez therefore produced mixed feelings for Aston Martin. While Fernando Alonso was encouraged by the car’s behaviour in both sessions, the team still has several issues to investigate before qualifying, particularly given the unusual demands created by Mexico City’s high altitude.
Fernando Alonso encouraged by Aston Martin’s Mexico GP performance
One of the most positive aspects of Friday’s running was the pace demonstrated by Fernando Alonso, who appeared comfortable with the AMR26 throughout both practice sessions. The Spaniard believes Aston Martin has made a more competitive start to the weekend than at several previous events.
“It has been a solid Friday in terms of performance here in Mexico, and we feel a little closer today than we have at previous events,” Fernando Alonso explained.
The two-time world champion knows that the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is one of the most unusual circuits on the Formula 1 calendar. Nevertheless, he was pleased to begin the weekend with a more encouraging level of performance.
“It is always a challenging circuit, so it is encouraging to start the weekend on a positive note.”
Despite those encouraging signs, Fernando Alonso remains cautious about Aston Martin’s prospects. The unique conditions created by the circuit’s altitude mean that further setup work could influence the competitive order before qualifying.
“The altitude brings its own difficulties, but we will keep working overnight and aim to get the most out of the car tomorrow and on Sunday.”
Aston Martin reveals Jak Crawford battery problem and Lance Stroll handling difficulties
While Fernando Alonso enjoyed a relatively positive Friday, the other side of the Aston Martin garage experienced a more complicated opening day. Team ambassador Pedro de la Rosa confirmed that a battery problem had interrupted Jak Crawford’s participation in the first practice session.
The young driver had been given another opportunity to gain experience behind the wheel of the AMR26, but the technical issue reduced the amount of track time available to him.
“It was good to give Jak another opportunity in the car in FP1, but the battery issue cut short his session slightly,” Pedro de la Rosa explained.
The problems were not limited to Jak Crawford’s running. Lance Stroll also encountered difficulties with his car, leaving Aston Martin with additional work to complete before Saturday’s sessions.
“We need to investigate the issues with Lance’s car because it was very difficult to drive.”
Why Aston Martin’s AMR26 looks more competitive in Mexico
Despite the setbacks, Pedro de la Rosa believes the characteristics of the Mexican circuit may be helping Aston Martin extract more performance from its car. In particular, the AMR26 demonstrated encouraging behaviour through the slower corners, potentially explaining why Fernando Alonso appeared closer to the competition.
“Fernando looked quite competitive in both the sessions today. The car was working well in the low-speed corners, which maybe made us look a bit more competitive than usual.”
However, the team must still contend with one of the biggest technical challenges of the Mexico City Grand Prix: managing temperatures in the thin air at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Cooling is a recurring concern for Formula 1 teams at this venue, and the issue is particularly significant under the current regulations. Similar concerns have been raised elsewhere in the paddock, with Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur warning about cooling and grip difficulties at the 2026 Mexico Grand Prix.
“As we see every year, cooling is a big challenge for all teams, and we need to keep an eye on temperatures across the weekend,” Pedro de la Rosa added.
Aston Martin therefore ends Friday with both encouragement and uncertainty. Fernando Alonso’s competitive pace suggests the AMR26 could be better suited to Mexico than some previous circuits, but the battery problem that affected Jak Crawford and the handling difficulties experienced by Lance Stroll underline the work still required.
The immediate priority will be to resolve those technical concerns while maintaining the promising balance demonstrated by Fernando Alonso, giving Aston Martin the best possible chance of building on its positive start in qualifying and Sunday’s race.
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