Formula 1 started in a complicated way for Aston Martin at the Monaco GP 2026. The team ended Friday with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll in the last positions of both free practice sessions and admitted car behavior problems on the streets of Monte Carlo.
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In addition to the modest results, the team also faced setbacks right at the start of activities. Stroll had telemetry problems in the initial phase of FP1, which hindered part of his work on the track. Still, both drivers managed to complete enough laps to begin adapting to the most traditional circuit on the calendar.
In FP1, Alonso recorded 21 laps and finished in 20th position, while Stroll completed 16 laps and was in 22nd. In FP2, both increased their mileage, with Alonso completing 30 laps and Stroll 27, but repeated the same results, again occupying 20th and 22nd places, respectively.
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After the sessions, Alonso highlighted that the car presented significant drivability problems. “It was a difficult day for us in Monaco. We are suffering from a lack of front grip and a lot of understeer. The behavior is quite inconsistent and it’s not easy to drive. I hope we can make some setup changes and improve the situation overnight,” said the Spaniard. The two-time champion also highlighted an evolution in another aspect: “My seat is more comfortable and it seems we have improved that.”
The team director, Pedro de la Rosa, acknowledged that the scenario was more complicated than expected. “We knew today would be challenging, but it turned out to be more difficult than we imagined. We made several changes throughout the sessions and gathered a lot of information on where we need to improve,” he explained. According to him, the main concern is the lack of consistency and predictability of the car, something considered fundamental for drivers to be able to attack the limits of the circuit with confidence. Aston Martin is now focusing its efforts on data analysis to try to find performance before Saturday’s qualifying.
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