Aston Martin struggles at Monaco Grand Prix as Alonso criticises car performance

During Friday practice for the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso crashed into the wall after the Aston Martin AMR26 suffered a rear‑wheel lock and a lack of predictability. The team confirmed the car suffers from poor handling, inconsistent brake‑by‑‑engine regeneration and front‑axle grip loss, with Alonso calling it “the worst generation of car I have ever driven in Monaco.”

In qualifying, Ferrari showed strong pace, with Charles Leclerc posting the fastest lap (1:13.978) and rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli impressing in the Ferrari‑powered car, setting the best time of the weekend in Free Practice 3. Spanish drivers underperformed: Alonso finished 21st, his teammate Lance Stroll and Carlos Sainz struggled to reach the top ten, while McLaren and Red Bull also faced difficulties.

The weekend highlighted the contrast between Aston Martin’s ongoing development challenges and Ferrari’s competitive edge on the tight street circuit, setting the stage for a dramatic race.