Alonso Calls for Investigation Into Honda Power Unit Performance

Fernando Alonso is calling for an urgent investigation into the Honda power unit after a frustrating weekend in Singapore. The Aston Martin driver reported significant performance deficits that hindered his pace, specifically citing a lack of consistency and power delivery that left him struggling against the midfield.

Why it matters:

Reliability and driveability are paramount as the 2026 season enters its final stretch. With a grueling triple-header approaching—including the slow-speed technicality of Mexico City and the high-speed demands of Las Vegas—any unresolved PU inefficiency could severely derail Aston Martin's competitive standing and championship aspirations.

The details:

• Performance Gaps: Alonso reported severe turbo lag and poor drivability, noting that the car lost substantial time on straights, becoming an "impossible task" to overtake.
• Deployment Issues: Energy deployment was erratic, particularly following Virtual Safety Cars. Alonso noted the car deployed power in unnecessary areas while failing to provide a boost on the straights.
• Technical Friction: While a turbo was replaced before the race, Alonso clarified that the race-day struggles were primarily rooted in deployment logic rather than hardware failure, despite Honda's initial contradictions regarding the turbo's state.
• Track Specificity: The issues appeared specific to Marina Bay; Alonso highlighted that no similar problems were encountered in Baku or Sepang, leaving the root cause an open question.

What's next:

Aston Martin and Honda must now prioritize a technical debrief to diagnose these anomalies before the United States Grand Prix. If these drivability issues persist into the Mexico City GP, where slow-speed corner exits are critical, Alonso could find himself facing another compromised weekend.