Aston Martin have confirmed that Fernando Alonso will start Saturday’s sprint race at the Dutch Grand Prix from the pitlane.
The two-time world champion endured a difficult Sprint Qualifying session at Zandvoort on Friday, exiting in SQ1 after finishing 22nd and last on the timing sheets.
Alonso’s struggles were later linked to a problem with the car’s straight-line mode, which prevented him from extracting the performance needed to compete for a better starting position.
The Spanish driver also revealed that the rear wing failed to open during qualifying, costing him additional lap time. Reflecting on the session, Alonso explained that the team had encountered drivability problems and that it was sometimes difficult to bring the car to a stop.
Following further overnight adjustments, Aston Martin announced on Saturday morning that Alonso would not take up his original grid position and would instead begin the sprint from the pitlane.
The decision means Alonso faces an even greater challenge in the opening race of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend. Starting from the pitlane will leave him with plenty of ground to recover if he is to score points.
Aston Martin will be hoping the changes made to Alonso’s car can address the issues experienced during Sprint Qualifying and give him a more competitive package during the race.
With the Dutch Grand Prix weekend already proving difficult for Alonso, attention will now turn to whether the veteran driver can fight his way through the field from the pitlane.
