Aston Martin Honda upgrade falters in Dutch GP Sprint Qualifying

Aston Martin's hopes for a significant step forward with a new Honda power unit were dashed during Sprint Qualifying at the Dutch Grand Prix on Friday, August 21, 2026, as both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll were eliminated in the first session. The team arrived at Zandvoort with high expectations after introducing a major engine upgrade, but technical issues left Alonso last on the grid and Stroll in 19th place.

The session was particularly difficult for Alonso, who encountered multiple problems that prevented him from setting a competitive time. The two-time world champion reported severe driveability issues, stating the engine was "overdelivering" under braking, making the car difficult to control. This contributed to him locking his front brakes and running through the gravel at Turn 1 early in the session. Compounding the issue, the car's Straight-Line Mode failed to activate, preventing the rear wing from opening as intended and costing significant lap time.

"Free practice was more or less ok, but in qualifying, we had problems on the engine drivability," Alonso explained. "It was pushing under braking, so it was difficult to stop the car sometimes because the engine was...