JUST IN: Stroll explains ‘really strange’ formation lap crash as Alon..

Stroll Describes ‘Really Strange’ Formation Lap Incident as Alonso Calls for Aston Martin to ‘Regroup’ After Difficult Sao Paulo GP

Fernando Alonso has emphasized the need for Aston Martin to “regroup and improve” ahead of the final triple-header of the Formula 1 season, following a challenging Sao Paulo Grand Prix where the team failed to score any points. The weekend also saw Lance Stroll suffer a bizarre incident during the formation lap, which forced him out of the race.

Aston Martin’s struggles began on Saturday, with both Alonso and Stroll finishing at the back of the pack in the Sprint race. Sunday’s rescheduled qualifying session was also problematic, as both drivers crashed in tricky weather conditions. Despite their setbacks, the team managed to repair the cars in time for the race, but Stroll’s day took a turn for the worse when he spun out on the formation lap and became stuck in the gravel, unable to start the race.

Alonso appeared to be on track to secure some points during the Grand Prix, but a wide moment during the final restart dropped him to the back of the field. Despite this, the two-time world champion managed to recover a significant portion of the time he had lost, closing a 20-second gap to catch Zhou Guanyu and finish 14th. However, Alonso admitted that the performance of the AMR24 was notably weaker during the race compared to its pace in qualifying.

“It was a tough race,” Alonso said. “The car performed worse in the race than it did in qualifying. We changed a few components after the crash, and it definitely wasn’t the same anymore. We also had some brake issues. Lance had a brake issue on the formation lap, and I experienced brake problems during some of the restarts when the brake balance shifted completely rearward.”

Alonso acknowledged the difficulties the team faced throughout the weekend and stressed the importance of regrouping ahead of the final three races, starting with the Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 21-23. “All in all, it was a tough weekend, and we need to regroup and improve for the next three races. We need to find more performance. I think we’ve underperformed in the last three events,” Alonso remarked.

Adding to Alonso’s troubles during the Sao Paulo GP was a bouncing issue with his car. During the latter stages of the race, he reported over the radio that his back was hurting due to the bouncing. In a post-race interview with Sky Sports F1, Alonso appeared emotional, with tears in his eyes. When asked if this was due to the pain caused by the bouncing, he confirmed, “Yeah.” Reflecting on the race, the 43-year-old admitted it ranked among the more difficult races of his career, saying, “For sure, some back pain, a lot of bouncing today.”

Meanwhile, Stroll reflected on his formation lap incident, describing the spin as “really strange” and pointing to a possible brake issue. “As soon as I touched the brake, I had a huge rear lock and from that point, I was just a passenger,” Stroll explained. “I’ve never experienced that before, so maybe there was a brake failure, and we need to investigate.”

Stroll, who has previously shown strong performances in wet conditions, expressed his frustration at being unable to compete, particularly in such unpredictable circumstances. “In a race like this, anything is possible, so to be out on Lap 1 really sucks. We have to figure out what went wrong,” he added.

With both drivers facing mechanical and performance-related issues, Aston Martin’s lack of pace and reliability was evident throughout the weekend. The team now faces the challenge of addressing these issues before the final three races of the season, where they will hope to finish on a stronger note.

Looking ahead, Alonso reiterated the importance of making improvements to ensure they can end the season more competitively. “We need to regroup and get better for the last three races,” he said, underlining the urgency for Aston Martin to find more pace and resolve the mechanical problems that have plagued them in recent events.

As the team prepares for the Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix, it’s clear that both drivers and the engineering team will need to work together to avoid a repeat of the difficulties experienced in Brazil.