Fernando Alonso endured a “very frustrating” Italian Grand Prix as Aston Martin’s hopes of scoring points were dashed by a suspension failure.
The Spaniard, driving the AMR25, had started from eighth on the grid and immediately showed pace with a strong start, closely chasing Gabriel Bortoleto.
Both Alonso and Bortoleto made their pit stops on the same lap, with the two-time world champion emerging ahead in seventh. However, Alonso’s progress was abruptly halted when a suspension failure forced him to retire from the race, leaving him disappointed at missing out on potential points.
The retirement comes at a crucial time for Aston Martin, who are embroiled in a tight midfield battle. The Racing Bulls sit just one point behind sixth-placed Aston Martin, making every point vital in the championship standings.
Alonso’s inability to finish the race represents a significant blow to the team’s aspirations to consolidate their position.
Reflecting on the setback, Alonso admitted his disappointment, emphasising the frustration of losing what had been a promising weekend.
Despite the early promise and competitive pace, the mechanical failure highlighted the fine margins in Formula 1, where even small issues can dramatically affect a team’s fortunes.
“[It was] very frustrating, because we were into the seventh place I think,” said Alonso.
“To secure seventh place [would have meant] another six points for the championship and we lost again.
“I remember [in] Monaco retiring the car with an engine problem being P6, today suspension problem being P7, so the luck definitely is not with us this year and we are losing a lot of points.
“But a well executed race, we overtook [Kimi] Antonelli at the start, we overtook Bortoleto at the pit stop and everything was looking good.”
