Aston Martin's Azerbaijan GP pain continues with grid penalties for Alonso and Stroll

Aston Martin's debut campaign with Honda has been a struggle, and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix will bring more pain as Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll both face grid penalties. The Silverstone-based team sits 10th in the constructors' championship with just three points, and Baku offers little chance of a recovery.

Why it matters:

These penalties are another blow for a team that has failed to deliver on expectations. The Honda partnership was supposed to provide a step forward, but so far it has produced neither the performance nor the reliability needed to compete. Alonso's ninth in the Netherlands and 10th in Monaco are the only points the team has managed all season.

The details:

• Alonso will take a new power unit and turbocharger, both exceeding his seasonal allocation, resulting in a 20-place grid penalty for Saturday's race.
• Stroll will use a new turbocharger—his sixth, when only four are permitted—earning a five-place grid penalty.
• A recent Honda upgrade has brought a slight performance improvement, but it hasn't been enough to lift the team out of the doldrums.

What's next:

With both drivers starting near the back, Aston Martin will likely focus on damage limitation and data gathering in Baku. Further Honda upgrades may offer hope, but a major turnaround looks unlikely.