“The wave to Cadillac”: Fernando Alonso’s frustration boils over in a nightmare F1 Chinese GP. Fernando Alonso’s China GP 2026 was cut short by severe vibrations in the Aston Martin AMR26.

The 2026 China Grand Prix turned into another challenging weekend for Fernando Alonso and the Aston Martin team. The Spanish driver was forced to retire during the race due to severe vibrations from the car, making it impossible to continue driving in acceptable conditions.

Alonso started from the back after a difficult qualifying session. At Shanghai, he failed to make it past Q1, finishing 19th, underlining the AMR26’s struggle to keep pace with the midfield pack.

During the race, the situation didn’t improve. After a start in which he gained a few positions thanks to other drivers’ issues, the two-time world champion increasingly suffered from vibrations coming from the engine and hybrid system. This issue, which had already appeared in the early races of the season, is linked to the power unit and battery developed in collaboration with Honda.

The moments that tell the story: Fernando Alonso takes his hands off the wheel

One of the most striking moments of the race comes from onboard footage of Fernando Alonso circulating on social media. The video shows several points where the Spanish driver had to take his hands off the wheel for a few seconds, shaking them and trying to relieve tension, almost as if stretching.

This gesture repeats multiple times around the Shanghai circuit and clearly reflects the physical discomfort caused by the severe vibrations. The jolts transmitted through the steering wheel made it extremely difficult to maintain a grip and control the car consistently.

Alonso was forced to hold the wheel with only a small portion of his hands while attempting to “stretch” and relax his fingers due to the intense vibrations. This is an extremely unusual scene in Formula 1, highlighting how serious the problem was during the race. Here’s the full video of the critical situation.

It was this growing discomfort in his hands and arms that ultimately led to the decision to retire the car. The team confirmed that Fernando Alonso withdrew from the China GP due to the intense vibrations, ending his weekend in Shanghai prematurely.

The “salute” to the Cadillac

ALONSO WAVING BYE TO THE CADILLAC 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭pic.twitter.com/2WFPhquen3

— olivia 🐥 (@technorodrigo) March 15, 2026

There was also a moment during the race that perfectly illustrated the Aston Martin team’s difficult situation. On the second straight of the circuit, while being overtaken by a Cadillac, Fernando Alonso raised a hand in greeting toward the passing car. While seemingly playful, many interpreted it as a sign of frustration and resignation in the face of the AMR26’s difficulties.

Soon after, the situation became unbearable: Alonso experienced severe discomfort in his hands due to the vibrations, and together with the team, decided to return to the pits to retire the car, ending his race.

Alonso’s retirement adds to an extremely challenging start to the season for Aston Martin. Between technical issues, vibrations, and lack of performance, the team is still searching for a solution to make the AMR26 competitive.