Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin shuts down on Silverstone formation lap

Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin car unexpectedly powered off during the formation lap of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, forcing the two‑time champion to start the race from the pit lane. After restarting the engine, he was able to finish the Grand Prix in 18th place, while his teammate Lance Stroll and the rest of the field completed the race under a safety‑car finish.

Aston Martin’s team admitted they have no clear explanation for the shutdown, saying they are analysing data to pinpoint whether the issue stemmed from the ECU, chassis or energy systems. In post‑race comments, Alonso warned that such failures must not recur when the car becomes faster and highlighted the need for reliability alongside upcoming upgrades. He also criticised the current power‑unit rules, calling battery‑assisted overtakes “one‑button” moves that diminish driver skill.

Alonso said, “The car shut off by itself… we have to learn what happened,” and added, “When the car is faster we don’t want this kind of problem.” His remarks on overtaking were: “You don’t need to out‑brake anyone, you just press one button and you overtake if you have a better power unit.”