Fernando Alonso has publicly questioned the competency of drivers in the lower third of the Formula 1 field after a first-lap collision at the United States Grand Prix in Austin ruined his race. The Aston Martin driver, who finished 16th after starting 12th, identified a recurring lack of quality among competitors at the back of the grid as a primary factor in the incident.
The collision occurred in Turn 11 of the Circuit of the Americas during the opening lap. As the field bunched up, Alonso and Williams driver Alex Albon made contact. The impact caused significant damage to the floor and aerodynamic components of Alonso’s Aston Martin, while Albon suffered damage to his front wing. Despite the severity of the contact, race stewards opted not to investigate or issue penalties to either driver, according to reporting by GPF1.cz.
The Collision at Turn 11
Alonso’s frustration centered on the maneuver executed by Albon. Speaking to media outlets, including RaceFans and F1 TV, the two-time world champion stated that the Williams driver failed to acknowledge the trajectory of the corner. “Albon forgot that there is an 11th turn and that he has to turn left,” Alonso said. He maintained that starting in the rear of the pack consistently exposes drivers to unpredictable risks, noting, “The quality of drivers in the bottom third of the grid is, in my opinion, currently very low.”
For his part, Alex Albon provided a different perspective on the incident. As reported by GPF1.cz, Albon suggested he had attempted to leave space for the Aston Martin, but the tight nature of the corner forced the two cars together. “I felt that Fernando had a car on his right side and left space as if he only had one car inside, but the inside was me,” Albon explained. He acknowledged that he would need to review the footage of the moment to better understand the stewards’ perspective on the incident.
Collision with Albon Costs Alonso Lap Time
The damage sustained in the opening lap had a measurable effect on Alonso’s pace. Podle výpočtů Španělovy stáje znamenal střet s Albonem ztrátu půl vteřiny na kolo. Despite the structural impairment, Alonso remained competitive enough to stay in the race, though he ultimately finished a lap down.
Alonso expressed a firm belief that his car possessed the potential for a points finish had it remained intact. “It was by far our best race of the year in terms of competitiveness,” Alonso told reporters. “The car was very strong and managed the tires well. If the car hadn’t been damaged, we likely would have finished in ninth or tenth.”
With Alonso finishing 16th and Albon 17th, the five-point gap between their respective teams remains unchanged. The season continues to be a difficult one for Aston Martin, with Alonso noting that the team must focus on improving the car’s qualifying performance to avoid the dangers inherent in the back of the pack.
Missing Floor Reduces AMR24 Aerodynamic Parts
The extent of the damage to the AMR24 was confirmed during post-race inspections. Alonso remarked on the resilience of the vehicle, which he saw in the parc fermé after the race. “Half of the floor is missing. I don’t understand how it was able to continue and be partially competitive,” the Spaniard noted. He credited his engineering team for the car’s ability to remain on track despite the extensive loss of aerodynamic parts.
While Alonso looks toward future improvements to his own machinery, the lack of intervention from race control suggests that the stewards viewed the contact as a standard racing incident of the opening lap.
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