Aston Martin Issues Official Statement After Fernando Alonso’s R…read more
The Aston Martin Formula 1 team has released an official statement in the aftermath of Fernando Alonso’s disappointing retirement from the Monaco Grand Prix, a race that marked a new low in what has become the worst season start of the two-time world champion’s illustrious 24-year F1 career. Despite entering the weekend in high spirits and securing a respectable P6 in qualifying, Alonso was once again denied points after an engine issue forced him to retire mid-race.
The 43-year-old Spaniard, who is the most experienced driver on the current grid, has yet to score a single championship point this season. This dismal run has left him tied at the bottom of the drivers’ standings with rookies Gabriel Bortoleto, Franco Colapinto, and Jack Doohan—three drivers whose zero-point status is arguably less alarming given that they were drafted into their seats amid a chaotic driver reshuffle just six races into the season.
Alonso’s retirement in Monaco came just a week after a heartbreaking finish at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, where he crossed the line in 11th, narrowly missing out on points. After that race, Alonso expressed growing frustration, going so far as to call himself the “unluckiest driver in the world” over team radio—a sentiment that now feels even more poignant following the events in Monte Carlo.
In a post-race debrief, Aston Martin CEO and newly appointed team principal Andy Cowell addressed the situation directly, offering a sincere apology to Alonso and shedding light on what went wrong. “We really feel for Fernando today,” Cowell said. “A power unit issue appeared just after his pit stop and, despite managing it for a while, we eventually had to park the car. Until then, we had done everything right and had a great opportunity to score a decent amount of points.”
Cowell went on to explain that Alonso’s retirement was not due to any strategic or driving error, but purely the result of a mechanical issue that the team was powerless to resolve in time. He acknowledged the efforts made by the team to manage the problem but admitted that the situation became untenable, ultimately leading to the DNF on lap 38.
Meanwhile, teammate Lance Stroll managed to complete the race but also came away empty-handed. Cowell described Stroll’s drive as “clean and tidy,” though he noted that overtaking opportunities were limited in the notoriously narrow streets of Monaco. The team had hoped that the mandatory two-stop rule might create some openings, but Cowell pointed out that other teams had successfully used team strategies to prioritize one driver, an option that didn’t materialize for Aston Martin.
The race in Monaco was particularly disheartening for Alonso, who has fond memories of winning back-to-back races there in 2006 and 2007. Returning to the iconic street circuit with optimism, the veteran driver had shrugged off talk of bad luck, stating he didn’t believe in superstitions and wouldn’t waste time trying to change his fortunes through rituals. Yet, fate had other plans, and Alonso’s retirement marked yet another setback in a season filled with them.
As the European triple-header continues, Aston Martin faces mounting pressure to turn their fortunes around. The team is reportedly analyzing every aspect of the car’s performance and reliability to ensure that similar issues don’t derail future races. For Alonso, the focus now shifts to rebuilding confidence and momentum as he looks to score his first points of the season—and break free from what has become a relentless string of misfortune.
With a third of the season already gone, Aston Martin’s statement is both a public acknowledgment of their internal struggles and a rallying cry to bounce back. Whether that will be enough to help Alonso rediscover the form that once made him a champion remains to be seen.
