The full extent of the damage to Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin AMR26 at the 2026 United States Grand Prix has been revealed, showing how the two-time Formula 1 world champion completed the race despite losing a substantial section of the car’s floor and several aerodynamic components. The damage resulted from a first-lap collision with Williams driver Alex Albon at the Circuit of The Americas, leaving the Spaniard with a severely compromised car for almost the entire Grand Prix.
Despite the extensive damage, Fernando Alonso refused to retire and eventually finished 16th in Austin, one position ahead of Alex Albon and one lap behind race winner Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The Aston Martin driver’s determination to reach the chequered flag was made even more remarkable by images subsequently shared by Pedro de la Rosa, which revealed just how much of the car’s aerodynamic structure had been destroyed.
Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin suffers extensive floor damage at Austin
Fernando Alonso was furious with Alex Albon following their collision on the opening lap of the United States Grand Prix. The Williams driver attempted an overtake on the inside at Turn 11, making contact with the left-hand side of the Aston Martin and causing considerable damage to the Spanish driver’s AMR26.
The incident immediately compromised Fernando Alonso’s race, although the two-time world champion elected to continue rather than retire. He managed to complete the Grand Prix despite the substantial aerodynamic losses, ultimately finishing 16th after an afternoon in which the damaged car was significantly more difficult to drive.
Following the race, Fernando Alonso was particularly critical of Alex Albon’s manoeuvre, believing the collision had prevented him from achieving a much stronger result. The Spaniard’s frustration was understandable given the extent of the damage, which became clearer once Aston Martin revealed the condition of his car.
Pedro de la Rosa reveals Alonso’s destroyed floor, deflectors and bargeboards
Pedro de la Rosa, the former Formula 1 driver, personal friend of Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin team ambassador, shared a photograph on his official X account showing the extraordinary damage sustained by the AMR26.
The image revealed that the Aston Martin was missing approximately half of its floor, along with deflectors and several bargeboard elements. These components contribute to the management of airflow around and underneath the car, making their loss particularly significant for aerodynamic performance.
Pedro de la Rosa praised Fernando Alonso for managing to bring such a badly damaged car to the finish, expressing surprise at the pace the Spaniard had maintained despite the missing components.
“This is how Fernando Alonso’s car looked after being hit by Alex Albon on the first lap,” Pedro de la Rosa wrote on X. “Considering it was missing half its floor, deflectors and several bargeboards, the pace was surprising, to say the least.”
The photograph shared by Pedro de la Rosa on X offered a clear indication of the difficulties Fernando Alonso had faced throughout the race. With important aerodynamic components missing, the Aston Martin was operating far from its intended configuration, making the Spaniard’s ability to remain competitive all the more notable.
Fernando Alonso’s determination stands out despite difficult Aston Martin season
The Austin performance provided another example of Fernando Alonso’s determination during a difficult 2026 Formula 1 campaign. Despite driving a car that has often struggled to match his ambitions, the experienced Spaniard has continued to extract whatever performance is available.
Fernando Alonso has scored all seven of Aston Martin’s Constructors’ Championship points this season, underlining his importance to the Silverstone-based team. In the Drivers’ Championship, he sits two points ahead of Alex Albon and is level with Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon.
Those standings provide further context for his performance at the United States Grand Prix. Although 16th place brought no additional championship points, Fernando Alonso’s ability to finish with such extensive damage demonstrated the resilience that has characterised his Formula 1 career.
The photographs published by Pedro de la Rosa also highlighted the consequences of the opening-lap collision. What initially appeared to be a costly racing incident ultimately left Fernando Alonso driving a severely damaged Aston Martin for much of the afternoon, yet he still managed to reach the chequered flag ahead of the driver involved in the contact.
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