FORMULA 1 F1 CALENDAR 2026 LEWIS HAMILTON MOTOGP RUMOURS

Alonso ready to pull the plug in Australian GP at first warning sign

Photo: Race Pictures

21:01, 07 Mar

byTobia Elia

Fernando Alonso hinted he could retire from the Australian Grand Prix at the first sign of trouble in order to preserve the car’s components.

"At the first sign that there is something potentially wrong, we cannot risk running, running, running until we make some big damage and then we compromise next week"

- Fernando Alonso

Alonso could call it a day in Australia at the first sign of trouble

The two-time world champion limited the damage with a respectable qualifying result, all things considered given Aston Martin’s disastrous start to the season, ending the session in seventeenth place and at least avoiding a start from the very back of the grid.

It was a very different story for his team-mate, who did not even take to the track and will therefore start tomorrow’s race from last on the grid.

Speaking to GPblog after qualifying, the Spaniard said: "Every lap we will monitor the situation. As Adrian (Newey) said yesterday, we are short on parts. There is no secret on that, and China is next week."

"Hopefully we can do as many laps as possible and we can do nearly the whole race. But at the first sign that there is something potentially wrong, we cannot risk running, running, running until we make some big damage and then we compromise next week. We will have to be very flexible."

Photo: Race Pictures

Stroll learns Australian GP fate as FIA '107%' decision made

The Aston Martin driver will line up on the grid for the 2026 Formula 1 season opener in Melbourne after the FIA granted him permission to race despite falling outside the 107% qualifying threshold.

The regulation states that any driver who fails to set a lap within 107% of the fastest Q1 time may be excluded from the race unless the stewards are satisfied that their pace in practice justifies a place on the grid.

Read the full story here.

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