Alonso flags major Aston Martin flaw that must be fixed ahead of Canadian GP

The two-time world champion, who qualified 17th and went on to finish a season-best 15th at the Miami Grand Prix, said he had no concerns with the reliability of the AMR26. However, he revealed that gearbox problems proved to be a persistent headache throughout the weekend.

“No issues, honestly, it was more the gearbox the whole weekend than the engine, so I don’t know the electronics or something. It was very weird on the downshifts and the upshifts, so not very well in control,” Alonso explained to GPblog.

Expanding on the need to resolve the problem, Alonso pointed out that the demands of the Canadian Grand Prix circuit make the issue even more pressing. He also acknowledged that Aston Martin made some improvements across the Miami weekend, but stressed that more work is needed in key areas.

“So that’s the fix number one for Canada. I think with all these heavy braking zones in Canada, we need to improve the gearbox behaviour at the moment. I think we will make a step in that drivability point of view. Performance, not. So, we need to stick together with the team,” he concluded.

Alonso also admitted he found a light-hearted way to keep himself entertained during a difficult race in Miami, where Aston Martin struggled at the back of the field. The Spaniard eventually finished 15th, a lap down, but still came home ahead of his team-mate and both Cadillacs after engaging in a spirited battle with Sergio Pérez.

Speaking after the race, Alonso explained that, with competitiveness lacking, the focus shifted to simply making the most of an otherwise difficult afternoon.

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