Fernando Alonso found confidence in Aston Martin's chassis but lost crucial speed on Baku's straights. A Honda power unit change will send him to the back of the grid.
Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin lost a full second on the final sector's longest straight in Baku, according to the driver. The gap leaves the team with almost no real chance to overtake during the race. The AMR26 'B' chassis is not the only issue. Honda's power unit is the bigger problem on a circuit that punishes every loss of speed.
Alonso qualified 19th for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. A late change to his combustion engine, battery and turbocharger will send him to 21st on the grid. Only Lance Stroll will start behind him. FIA and Formula1.com reports confirmed that both Aston Martin drivers received grid penalties for new Honda power-unit components. Their grid positions were shaped by more than qualifying pace.
Fernando Alonso received an additional five-place grid penalty after Aston Martin fitted a new energy store before FP3, increasing the starting-position damage already caused by other power-unit changes.
The weakness also showed up inside the cockpit. Vibrations appeared on Alonso's on-board camera and in his movements at the wheel. Baku's long straights already expose the lack of power. The vibration added another concern.
Alonso still liked parts of the car. In Free Practice 3, he felt more comfortable than he had the previous day. That confidence carried into qualifying. He was particularly happy with the car under braking and through the corners.
That difference matters. Adrian Newey's AMR26 'B' gave Alonso enough trust to attack the tighter parts of the lap, especially the twistier second sector. The car loses much more time in the first and third sectors. Long runs at full throttle give the chassis little chance to recover the gap.
Formula1.com reported that Aston Martin restricted Fernando Alonso’s running in the second practice session after the team suspected an oil leak. The issue added a technical concern to the power deficit already exposed by Baku’s long straights.
Baku makes the Aston Martin feel like two different cars. In the technical sections, Alonso can use the balance and braking stability he praised. On the straights, the Honda deficit wipes out that advantage before the next corner.
The wind made the session harder. An earlier weather report described cooler conditions in Barcelona, but that contrast does not change the central problem in Baku. Weather matters here when it changes how the car can be placed on track. It cannot remove the speed deficit on the straight.
The FIA penalties point to more than a tactical engine change for one weekend. Reports from the FIA and specialist Formula 1 outlets say Alonso had exceeded seasonal allowances for several power-unit elements. Those elements include the internal combustion engine, turbocharger and ancillary components. Stroll also took penalties for new Honda components.
Both Aston Martin cars are therefore in the penalty zone. They are close to the back of the grid regardless of their qualifying results. That hurts.
Alonso has already turned his attention beyond Baku. Aston Martin will use the remaining running to learn as much as possible about the car before preparing for Malaysia and the return to Sepang the following week.
The picture is clear. Aston Martin has built a chassis Alonso can trust in the corners. Honda's power and vibration problems overwhelm that progress on a layout dominated by acceleration and top speed. Until the power unit stops giving away a second on one straight, the AMR26 'B' may look promising in the bends and still lack the speed needed to fight for positions.
