Fernando Alonso has taken a swipe at Monza's famous 'Temple of Speed' nickname, claiming the circuit no longer lives up to its reputation after a significant drop in top speeds during the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix.
The 53-lap race on Sunday was an exciting affair, with Andrea Kimi Antonelli snatching victory from Mercedes teammate George Russell in the closing stages. But for Alonso, the return to the iconic track was far from thrilling.
2026 Engine Rules Blamed for Speed Deficit
The 2026 engine regulations, which split power 50/50 between the internal combustion engine and battery, have drawn criticism from both fans and drivers. Cars now hit their top speed sooner, and on a circuit like Monza with long straights and few heavy braking zones to recharge the battery, the result is a deficit of more than 10 km/h compared to the previous ground-effect era.
Aston Martin's fastest speed at the weekend was just 319 km/h, prompting Alonso to essentially strip Monza of its iconic moniker.
"It was different from what we've experienced so far at Monza. We arrive here and it says we're entering the 'Temple of Speed'. But it's no longer the 'Temple of Speed'. In Barcelona, I think we reached 350km/h or 360km/h, and in Budapest, 355km/h. And in Monza, we were around 312km/h. So, it's no longer the 'Temple of Speed'," Alonso said.
A Difficult Weekend for the Spaniard
Alonso retired from the Italian GP on Lap 23, believing he picked up suspension damage from riding a kerb too aggressively at the second Lesmo. It capped off what he called a "difficult weekend" for the team.
Despite the chassis upgrades on the AMR26 bringing points at Zandvoort, Alonso was wary of the struggles they could face at a power-sensitive circuit like Monza. However, he did enjoy a brief battle with the Cadillacs before his retirement.
"Yeah, I think I got damage on the car. I went over the kerb at Turn 7, and something felt strange – suspension or something. It was difficult, same as the whole weekend. We were with the Cadillacs, so at least we had a little bit of fun in the race. But, yeah, a difficult weekend," he explained.
Next up for Alonso is his second home race of 2026 at the brand-new Madring circuit in Madrid.
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