Heading into the Formula 1 US Grand Prix 2026, Fernando Alonso has offered a realistic assessment of Aston Martin's true potential. Despite securing 13th place on the starting grid at COTA, the two-time World Champion admitted that the AMR26's genuine pace actually places them around 15th or 16th.
The 2026 season has proven to be a difficult campaign for the Silverstone-based outfit. From ongoing reliability concerns to underwhelming race-day performances, the team has faced a steep uphill battle despite occasional flashes of competitiveness during the year.
Speaking to the media including Motorsport Week ahead of Sunday's main event, the veteran Spaniard pointed out that his starting grid slot flatters the actual performance of the car, warning that faster rivals looming from behind pose a significant threat.
"Obviously, I think on merit we are P15 or P16," Fernando Alonso stated. "So, you know, some fast cars are coming from behind tomorrow as a threat. So, we need to keep an eye on that and then the performance we see."
Despite the overall pace deficit in the midfield, the layout of the Austin circuit brought an unexpected positive surprise for Aston Martin. The track characteristics allowed the team to fit much closer into the fierce midfield battle against rivals like Williams and Cadillac than initially anticipated.
However, ongoing technical gremlins involving the power unit hampered the driver's confidence throughout the session. Inconsistent torque delivery during corner entry created unpredictable handling characteristics on the AMR26.
"The car was good. We only had some issues on the power unit, delivering torque into the corners a little bit inconsistent," he continued. "Some laps we had, you know, push. Sometimes we had like a handbraking feeling in the middle of the corners. So, that was the thing that removes a little bit of confidence in the driver."
Baca Juga
Fernando Alonso ungkap masalah power unit Aston Martin jelang F1 GP Amerika Serikat 2026. Baca analisis mendalam selengkapnya di sini!
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