Fernando Alonso stated that his frustration is beyond imagination after a power unit problem caused an early end to his qualifying session for the Formula 1 Mexico Grand Prix.
Early Exit in Q1
The Aston Martin driver claimed 18th position on the grid with only a single flying lap completed. His AMR26 ground to a halt through the stadium section of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez with 11 minutes remaining in the opening qualifying phase.
It was a difficult moment for the two-time world champion, who had briefly gone fastest among the 11 drivers on track before dropping into the elimination zone, finishing 0.387 seconds shy of advancing to Q2.
Missed Potential and Ongoing Struggles
Alonso explained that huge temperature problems affected everyone on the grid, adding that starting from the back would make it impossible to follow other cars closely during the race. He noted that the team missed a major opportunity, describing the setback as representative of their entire year.
The issue denied the veteran driver a third consecutive progression to Q2 in five rounds, halting a recent upturn in performance sparked by Aston Martin’s upgrades introduced around the summer break.
When asked if reaching Q3 might have been achievable in Mexico, Alonso admitted it would have been difficult. He noted that his car had previously hovered around 11th to 13th in practice, suggesting that 12th or 13th was likely their true pace before teammate Lance Stroll qualified in 20th place.
