Alonso "physically" unable to continue, both Aston Martins retire in China

While Lance stroll had seen the finish in Australia (fifteen laps behind the winner, admittedly), the two Aston Martin were forced to retire this Sunday during the Chinese Grand Prix. For the Canadian, the race lasted only nine short laps before a mechanical problem brought out the safety car while the AMR26, which had stopped in the first corner, was recovered.

« I entered the first corner and everything cut out., he explained to the official website of the Formula 1. “I don’t know what the problem was, whether it was the engine, the battery, something electrical… I’m not sure. We know what problems we have, so we’re going to keep working on them. We’re going to try to improve the car and the engine in Japan, look for performance, and that’s all we can do.”

The body says "stop" for Alonso

If his teammate Fernando Alonso Although he managed to stay on track until the end of lap 32, the Spaniard proved physically unable to continue the Grand Prix. The cause was the numerous vibrations of the AMR26, originating initially from the engine but propagating to all the internal components of the car… and even reaching the drivers' hands and feet. Adrian Newey, the Team Principal of the Silverstone-based team, explained in Melbourne that both drivers did not feel they could complete more than about twenty laps.

In Australia, the vibration problems seemed less severe than expected, and both green cars appeared to have made good progress in this area. The same was true at the start of this Chinese Grand Prix weekend, but Alonso explained that his retirement was indeed caused by excessive vibrations on Sunday, which he found impossible to endure any longer.

“It was difficult today; we had more vibrations than in all the other sessions this weekend. Physically, I couldn't continue much longer. I started losing feeling in my hands and feet, which wasn't pleasant. I'll continue to train, to prepare, I'll do my homework in a certain way, so that I arrive ready in Japan.”

The third Grand Prix of the season will indeed take place in Japan, at the Suzuka circuit, Honda's home turf. Needless to say, the alliance between the British manufacturer and the Japanese engine supplier isn't off to the best start, and the Suzuka race will almost certainly resemble a waking nightmare more than a honeymoon…

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