Onboard Footage Exposes Fernando Alonso's Horrific Aston Martin Vibrations
Onboard camera footage has starkly revealed the extreme vibrations that forced Fernando Alonso to retire from the Chinese Grand Prix, with the 44-year-old Spaniard reporting he "lost feeling in his hands and feet" during the race. The violent oscillations experienced in the Aston Martin AMR26 car were laid bare at the Shanghai International Circuit, leading to Alonso's early exit with 21 laps remaining.
Physical Toll and Safety Concerns
Alonso described the ordeal as physically unbearable, stating, "It was difficult, we found more vibrations than any other session of the weekend. Physically, I could not continue much longer. I started to lose the feeling in my hands and feet, it was not a nice feeling." This incident follows pre-race admissions from Aston Martin team principal Adrian Newey, who acknowledged that both Alonso and teammate Lance Stroll had expressed concerns about potential "permanent nerve damage" due to the car's severe shaking.
The onboard footage clearly shows Alonso having to release his grip on the steering wheel at multiple points, particularly on the circuit's two straights, as the car vibrated violently. Stroll also retired earlier in the race due to a suspected battery issue, compounding Aston Martin's troubles.
Broader Criticisms of New Generation Cars
Separate from his team's specific problems, Alonso criticised the new generation of Formula 1 cars after four drivers—McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, Williams' Alex Albon, and Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto—failed to even start the race due to mechanical failures. "Four cars didn't start – that's probably the worst spectacle you can have," Alonso remarked.
He further elaborated on issues with battery management, saying, "The starts are fun, it was in Australia too. When we all have the same battery level on the first lap, full, the car gets a good start. But then we enter the world championship of battery life, and there we're not as good as the others."
Upcoming Challenges and Schedule Changes
Aston Martin now faces urgent work to address these vibration issues ahead of the next race, the Japanese Grand Prix in two weeks, which is Honda's home event. The team will then have a five-week gap to implement further improvements following the cancellations of races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia next month. This extended break provides a critical window for Aston Martin to collaborate with engine supplier Honda on resolving the ongoing problems that have plagued their season start.
