Fernando Alonso already knows: a grid penalty awaits in Zandvoort too

For Alonso, starting from the back of the grid is no longer a surprise, as the Aston Martin lacks the pace to challenge its rivals ahead. The grid penalty that comes with the Spaniard having a new energy store, control electronics unit and power unit ancillary component will make no difference in this regard.

Aston Martin hopes to take a step forward at the Hungarian Grand Prix with the introduction of a B-spec AMR26. The revised chassis should at least improve the team’s chances of making Q2 in qualifying.

Then, after the summer break at the Dutch Grand Prix, the team hopes to find even more performance through the updates set to be introduced for the Honda power unit.

GPblog has learned, however, that with the new power unit, the energy store, the control electronics unit, and the power unit ancillary component will again be replaced on Alonso’s car. Since the Spaniard is already over the limit, he will therefore have to take another grid penalty at Zandvoort.

The same applies to Lance Stroll, who is also over the limit for several power unit components. So if Honda does indeed bring new engines to the Dutch Grand Prix as planned, it won’t make any difference to the Aston Martin duo’s grid positions for the time being.