Fernando Alonso's plans for the Italian Grand Prix took a hit after a last-minute engine problem sent Aston Martin and Honda back to work on his car after qualifying. Instead of starting from his original grid spot, Alonso will now begin the race from the pitlane, losing any benefit from other drivers' penalties and facing a tough challenge at Monza.
The issue surfaced during Saturday's qualifying session, when a malfunction was detected in the power unit. Aston Martin and Honda's technical staff decided the engine needed immediate attention. Because the car was worked on under parc fermé conditions, Alonso was moved to a pitlane start. PlanetF1 reported that the team found an anomaly in the power unit data during Q1, prompting overnight repairs and costing Alonso his grid position.
Stewards' notes confirmed that Aston Martin replaced the MGU-K and energy store on Alonso's car. The team also replaced the control electronics, exceeding the permitted component limits for the 2026 season.
Alonso had been set to start 18th, helped by grid penalties for several rivals. That chance vanished when the engine issue emerged, leaving the team to prioritize reliability over grid position. Alonso said the "engine did not start," preventing him from making a second qualifying run and potentially costing him a better starting spot, information from several motorsport outlets.
Monza's long straights and tight layout make overtaking difficult, so starting from the pitlane means Alonso will have to work his way through the entire field. The setback is a blow for Alonso and Aston Martin, who had hoped to benefit from the shuffled grid. PlanetF1 also noted that Liam Lawson will start from the pitlane for similar reasons, as several teams faced technical problems at this year's Italian Grand Prix.
Honda's HRC representative Shintaro Orihara said the Monza power unit modifications aimed to improve drivability, based on telemetry analysis and driver feedback, rather than deliver outright performance gains. Multiple teams made late technical changes over the Italian Grand Prix weekend, and Monza's long straights and limited overtaking opportunities magnified the impact of reliability issues.
Technical failures and last-minute changes are familiar in Formula 1. Earlier in the weekend, Pierre Gasly surprised many by taking pole position at Monza after a similar run of unexpected events. The Italian Grand Prix has kept teams and fans guessing throughout the weekend.
For Alonso, a pitlane start shows how quickly things can go wrong in Formula 1. Aston Martin and Honda moved quickly to fix the engine, but the cost is clear. A setback like this can affect both driver and team. Even the most experienced drivers depend on reliability, and Monza has again shown how unpredictable the sport can be.
