Aston Martin’s Random-Downshift Trouble Surfaces in Alonso’s Monaco Crash

Monaco, Aston driver Fernando Alonso lost control of the AMR26 entering the chicane, tapped the barrier and broke a wing. The incident followed his warning about “random downshifts” causing rear-wheel lock, which ambassador Pedro de la Rosa called a “massive rear locking issue.”

Aston Martin gives update on “random downshifts” after Fernando Alonso’s FP1 crash

Aston Martin entered the season with Honda works powertrains after ending its Mercedes customer-engine partnership. Simultaneously the team began producing its own gearboxes, creating a new power-unit-gearbox integration that has been linked to the random-downshift problem.

Aston Martin’s “random downshifts” leave Alonso wary of Monaco GP crashes

In Miami qualifying Alonso was 1.2 seconds slower than the Q2 cutoff, attributing the deficit to gearbox irregularities. Lance Stroll reported gear-sync loss below 40 km/h at the Loews hairpin, each re-sync costing lap-time. The Monaco crash left a broken front-wing.

Aston Martin’s “random downshifts” leave Alonso wary of Monaco GP crashes

Pedro de la Rosa said data have not yet been reviewed, so the team cannot confirm whether a downshift triggered rear lock. He framed the incident as part of a broader driveability and brake-balance issue that engineers are addressing.

Aston Martin gives update on “random downshifts” after Fernando Alonso’s FP1 crash

Alonso warned that “Monaco is not the place for a random downshift, rear locking or pushing… because then you will crash into the wall,” stressing danger to points chances. Stroll added that gear-sync loss below 40 km/h incurs “huge lap-time” penalties.

Aston Martin’s “random downshifts” leave Alonso wary of Monaco GP crashes

De la Rosa admitted the team has not yet examined data, leaving uncertainty over whether a downshift or braking initiated rear lock. Alonso similarly has not confirmed the precise trigger, and no telemetry or bulletin has been published to clarify the issue.

Aston Martin gives update on “random downshifts” after Fernando Alonso’s FP1 crash

Unpredictable torque during downshifts threatens driver safety on Monaco’s narrow circuit and makes the car difficult to drive, limiting Aston Martin’s ability to score points and affecting its competitiveness under the new power-unit regulations.

Aston Martin’s “random downshifts” leave Alonso wary of Monaco GP crashes

Aston Martin will review data from the Monaco practice sessions to pinpoint the downshift trigger. Engineers plan targeted gearbox and brake-balance updates, with further development ongoing, aiming to restore driveability.

Aston Martin’s “random downshifts” leave Alonso wary of Monaco GP crashes

• “I don't really know exactly what happened, in the sense that it is rear locking, but I don't really know – because I haven't been able to look at the data – if it was related to the downshift or not,” — Pedro de la Rosa, Aston Martin F1 team ambassador

Aston Martin gives update on “random downshifts” after Fernando Alonso’s FP1 crash

• “But obviously, it was a massive rear locking issue. He let go of the brakes at one point just to recover, otherwise it would have been a full spin, so he did very well to come out of that with just a little broken front wing [endplate], so that was that.” — Pedro de la Rosa, Aston Martin F1 team ambassador

Aston Martin gives update on “random downshifts” after Fernando Alonso’s FP1 crash

• “I guess it's all part of the same problem, the driveability, predictability of the car when you brake; the downshift, which affects the brake balance – and then you move it rearwards in a way that it affects the downshift even further,” — Pedro de la Rosa, Aston Martin F1 team ambassador

Aston Martin gives update on “random downshifts” after Fernando Alonso’s FP1 crash

• “And Monaco is not the place to have a random downshift, to have rear locking or pushing or something like that, because then you will crash into the wall, and the driver will look stupid.” — Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin driver

Aston Martin’s “random downshifts” leave Alonso wary of Monaco GP crashes