Fernando Alonso says he “lost feeling in his hands and feet” as the extremities of the Aston Martin F1 car vibrations were laid bare at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Before the first race in Australia last week, Aston team principal Adrian Newey admitted that Alonso and teammate Lance Stroll were concerned about “permanent nerve damage”, such was the violent shaking of the AMR26.
On Sunday, Alonso was running towards the back of the field when he retired with 21 laps to go, citing “discomfort due to the vibrations of the car” as Aston’s problems with engine supplier Honda continue.
🏎️Fernando Alonso aracındaki titreşimler yüzünden düzlüklerde ve bulabildiği her fırsatta direksiyonu bırakmak zorunda kalıyor...pic.twitter.com/lFULkfxrIA
— Arka Kanat (@arkakanat) March 15, 2026
Onboard footage from the 44-year-old’s car shows the violent oscillations Alonso experienced, particularly on the two straights at the Shanghai International Circuit, with the Spaniard having to let go of the steering wheel at various points.
“It was difficult, we found more vibrations than any other session of the weekend,” Alonso said afterwards.
“Physically, I could not continue much longer. I started to lose the feeling in my hands and feets, it was not a nice feeling.”
Stroll retired earlier in the race, due to a “suspected battery issue”, the team revealed.
Separate to his own team’s troubles, Alonso also criticised the new generation of cars after four drivers – the McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, Williams’ Alex Albon and Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto – failed to even start the race due to mechanical issues.
“Four cars didn’t start – that’s probably the worst spectacle you can have,” Alonso said.
“The starts are fun, it was in Australia too. When we all have the same battery level on the first lap, full, the car gets a good start.
“But then we enter the world championship of battery life, and there we’re not as good as the others.”
Aston will be working on fixing their various issues with the next race, the Japanese Grand Prix in two weeks, Honda’s home event.
The team will then have a five-week gap to improve the car after the cancellations of races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia next month.
Kimi Antonelli claims emotional first F1 victory in China with Lewis Hamilton on podium
McLaren retire both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri before Chinese GP in early-season disaster
F1 standings after Chinese GP race as Kimi Antonelli closes gap to George Russell
Kimi Antonelli claims maiden Grand Prix victory with win in China
McLaren retire both Norris and Piastri before Chinese GP in early-season disaster
Chinese GP race results: Full F1 times and standings in Shanghai
