Fernando Alonso was around 12th and within reach of Q3 when Aston Martin told him to stop before a second qualifying run in Mexico. The team suspected a water-pressure issue linked to the Energy Recovery System (ERS), part of the car’s hybrid power unit. The stoppage in the Foro Sol stadium section brought out red flags and ended Alonso’s Q1 session.
The timing mattered. Alonso had felt confident despite gearbox problems under braking in third practice. Track conditions were expected to improve, giving him a chance to climb, and Aston Martin had targeted Q2 for both cars. Instead, Alonso never got a second attempt.
His pace had looked more promising earlier in the weekend. An earlier practice report placed him 12th in FP2, seven tenths off the fastest time. That pace, along with his initial Q1 effort, had raised hopes of a stronger qualifying result.
The FIA’s official classification placed Alonso 17th, with a best Q1 lap of 1:18.908 across four laps and no Q2 or Q3 participation. Pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton’s 1:16.514 was 2.394 seconds faster. Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll was classified 20th in 1:19.072, leaving both team cars eliminated in Q1.
Alonso said the team had lost a major chance. He called his frustration unimaginable and said it reflected the story of the season. He also pointed to the difficulty of following other cars when starting further back, with high temperatures affecting the field.
Honda's power deficit mattered less at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Alonso explained. The circuit has only two primary straights, before turns one and four; low grip elsewhere limits how frequently drivers can use full throttle. Aston Martin described the water-pressure problem as suspected and linked to the ERS, rather than confirming a complete engine failure.
