Fernando Alonso has raised concerns about the reliability of Aston Martin’s Monaco Grand Prix car – A technical issue has cast a shadow over Aston Martin’s Monaco Grand Prix weekend, with Fernando Alonso admitting that it could have serious consequences if left unresolved. The car may not finish, or even start, the Grand Prix.
The Silverstone-based team arrived in Monte Carlo with a special Monaco livery and hopes of gaining momentum after a challenging start to the 2026 Formula 1 season. However, attention quickly shifted from aesthetics to reliability when both Alonso and Lance Stroll revealed that they had been experiencing ongoing gearbox-related problems with the AMR26 in recent races.
While rumours in the Monaco paddock suggest that Aston Martin’s participation in Sunday’s race could be in jeopardy, the team has not publicly indicated that it is considering withdrawing from the event. Nevertheless, comments from both drivers highlight the scale of the challenge facing the squad.
Alonso identified the gearbox issue as Aston Martin’s priority
During media activities, Alonso was asked whether Charles Leclerc’s newly extended Ferrari contract had any implications for his own Formula 1 future.
Instead of discussing his long-term plans, the two-time world champion immediately focused on the current technical issues facing Aston Martin.
“There hasn’t been much progress, to be honest. Right now, the priority for the team and for me is to resolve the situation and improve performance.”
He then revealed that gearbox-related problems have persisted since the Miami Grand Prix and remain a significant concern ahead of one of Formula 1’s most challenging circuits.
“We’ve had gearbox issues since Miami. Monaco is not the place for an unexpected gear change, as there is a risk of the rear wheels locking up, the engine over-pushing, or something similar. In that case, you’d end up hitting the wall, and it wouldn’t reflect well on the driver.”
The narrow barriers and unforgiving nature of the Monaco street circuit leave little margin for error, so transmission reliability is particularly critical throughout the weekend.
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Drivers have been struggling with unpredictable downshifts
Alonso went on to explain how the issue manifests itself behind the wheel, suggesting that drivers can sometimes feel powerless when the system behaves unexpectedly.
“Sometimes we feel like passengers when we shift down and the engine pushes, as if it were at full throttle.”
The Spaniard added that Aston Martin has devoted considerable attention to finding a solution since the Canadian Grand Prix.
“This is our top priority. We have to make sure we take a step in the right direction, and that’s what we’ve been working on for the last two weeks since Canada, because we know this is an important weekend and we’re paying close attention to every detail.”
These comments offer a rare insight into the technical frustrations currently affecting the team as they search for performance and consistency.
Lance Stroll revealed a separate synchronisation problem
Alonso’s concerns were reinforced by his teammate, Lance Stroll, who outlined a separate issue involving gear synchronisation.
According to Stroll, the problem occurs whenever the car drops below a certain speed, which is a major handicap at a circuit dominated by low-speed corners.
“Every time we drop below 40 km/h, we lose gear synchronisation.”
The Canadian highlighted Monaco’s famous Loews Hairpin as a particularly problematic section of the track.
“Here, for example, every time we go through the Loews Hairpin, we completely lose gear synchronisation, and then we have to re-synchronise, resulting in a huge loss of lap time.”
At a venue where qualifying is often decisive and lap time gains are measured in thousandths of a second, such a limitation could have a significant impact on Aston Martin’s competitiveness.
The latest setback adds to a difficult season for Aston Martin
The gearbox concerns have emerged during what has already been a challenging campaign for Aston Martin.
Despite the arrival of technical superstar Adrian Newey earlier this year and significant investment from team owner Lawrence Stroll, the team has struggled to consistently compete with the top teams.
Performance limitations, reliability concerns, and development issues have combined to leave Aston Martin searching for answers as Formula 1’s new regulatory era approaches.
Monaco was viewed internally as an opportunity to maximise the car’s strengths on a circuit where driver confidence and track position can sometimes be more decisive than outright pace. However, the transmission issues described by both Alonso and Stroll threaten to undermine those hopes.
With practice sessions set to provide the first real indication of whether Aston Martin has found a solution, the team is entering one of Formula 1’s most prestigious weekends with questions about more than just performance, but also basic reliability.
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With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
