Fernando Alonso stated that his frustration is beyond imagination after a power unit problem brought his qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix to an early end. The two-time world champion suffered a painful issue early in Q1 after a reliable weekend up to that point.
Qualifying Cut Short in Q1
Aston Martin explained that a suspected water pressure issue linked to the ERS system caused the failure. Alonso finished Friday’s Free Practice 2 session in 12th position, just 0.769 seconds behind the pacesetting Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, highlighting his presence in the midfield fight.
Alonso clocked a strong initial lap to lead the times in the opening minutes of the session before receiving an urgent radio call from the pit wall instructing him to stop the car. He complied just short of the pit lane entrance and showed visible frustration.
Alonso noted that stopping just 100 meters away from the garage was necessary because the problem exceeded what the team could fix on-site. He added that stopping was the safest course of action for everyone on the track, and he followed instructions accordingly.
Pessimistic Outlook for the Race
When asked if he felt optimistic following his strong Friday performance, Alonso confirmed that he was. However, he admitted that reaching Q3 was likely out of reach even though a decent result slipped away.
Alonso noted that practice sessions had placed him between 11th and 13th, suggesting that 12th or 13th was the realistic limit for the day. He explained that Mexico suited the AMR26 package better than expected due to the circuit layout.
According to Alonso, fewer straights and low grip levels reduce power sensitivity because drivers can rarely go full throttle. Starting from 18th on the grid, the Spaniard remains pessimistic about making progress at a venue where running in traffic presents major challenges.
Alonso pointed out that everyone faces huge temperature problems, and starting at the back prevents close following. He concluded that nothing much can be done, noting that a big opportunity was lost in what has become the story of the year.
