Alonso Fears Aston Martin May Be Unable to Race in Monaco

Fernando Alonso has warned that a persistent gearbox issue could prevent Aston Martin from competing safely in Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix. Unpredictable downshifts have plagued the car since Miami, creating a dangerous scenario on the narrow streets where precision is everything and walls are unforgiving.

Why it matters:

Monaco leaves no room for mechanical error. A sudden rear lock-up or unexpected engine torque under braking could end a race instantly against the barriers. After finally stabilizing early-season reliability troubles, Aston Martin now faces a fresh technical crisis at the worst possible venue.

The details:

• The downshift problem emerged in Miami and has continued to compromise drivability, with Alonso describing moments where the car feels like it is at full throttle unexpectedly during braking.
• During FP1, Alonso narrowly brushed the wall exiting the tunnel after a sudden loss of rear traction, though the team has not confirmed a direct link to the gearbox fault.
• "Probably we cannot even race," Alonso admitted, noting that a repeat of the Miami issue in Monaco would result in a crash at one of the braking points.
• The team has spent the two weeks since Miami urgently working on solutions, knowing that Monte Carlo's tight corners offer no margin for instability.

What's next:

The coming sessions will determine whether Aston Martin has tamed the fault or faces a weekend of survival. If the downshifts remain erratic, the team may have no choice but to run conservatively or risk not racing at all, turning Monaco into a high-stakes engineering gamble.