Fernando Alonso blasts latest F1 embarrassment: “The worst show you can have”
SHANGHAI — Fernando Alonso did not mince words after yet another disastrous weekend for Aston Martin at the Chinese Grand Prix. The two-time world champion called Formula 1’s current state “the worst show you can have” following a race weekend in which seven cars failed to finish — four of them never even made it to the starting grid.
Aston Martin’s ambitious target in Shanghai — simply to finish the race — proved impossible. Lance Stroll retired on lap 9 with a battery failure, while Alonso lasted until lap 32 before climbing out of the AMR26 in visible discomfort. The Spaniard’s onboard footage quickly went viral: the car shaking violently down the start/finish straight to the point where he had to lift both hands off the steering wheel to avoid numbness and pain.
Alonso later confirmed to long-time F1 journalist Adam Cooper that the vibrations from the Honda power unit were noticeably worse in China than they had been in Melbourne two weeks earlier. “In Australia it was bad,” he said. “Here it was even worse. I couldn’t keep my hands on the wheel for long periods. It’s not just uncomfortable — it’s dangerous.”
The 44-year-old veteran was then asked about the reliability crisis engulfing the entire grid. Four cars — Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto, Williams’ Alex Albon, and both McLaren entries of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri — failed to start the race. McLaren later revealed that Norris and Piastri suffered two completely separate electrical issues with their Mercedes power units. In total, seven cars were classified as non-finishers.
Alonso’s verdict was scathing:
“This is the worst show you can have. Four cars don’t even start, another seven don’t finish. We’re supposed to be the pinnacle of motorsport and we can’t even get 20 cars to the end of a Grand Prix. It’s embarrassing for everyone involved — the teams, the manufacturers, the FIA, the fans who pay a lot of money to watch this.”
The Spaniard’s comments come at a sensitive time for F1’s new 2026 regulations. The overhauled power units — with a 50/50 thermal/electrical split, significantly higher hybrid output and stricter energy management — have exposed widespread reliability problems in the opening rounds. Aston Martin, running Honda power for the first time, has been particularly badly affected, with persistent vibration issues that engineers have so far failed to contain.
Team principal Andy Cowell acknowledged the severity after the race:
“We knew the vibrations were an issue coming into this weekend. We thought we had mitigated it enough, but clearly we hadn’t. Fernando’s feedback is clear and we are working around the clock to fix it. This isn’t acceptable — for the drivers or for the team.”
Alonso’s sarcastic wave to the Cadillac that overtook him on track — a moment captured perfectly by the onboard camera — has already become a viral meme. The Spaniard later joked: “At least someone was able to finish the race.”
The FIA has already confirmed it is fast-tracking an emergency technical review of energy management, cooling requirements and vibration damping ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix. Technical director Nikolas Tombazis said: “We are gathering data from every team. If adjustments are needed to ensure driver safety and raceability, they will be made.”
For Alonso, however, the words were simple and damning:
“We are the best drivers in the world driving the most advanced cars on the planet. And we can’t even finish races. That is not Formula 1. That is an embarrassment.”
As the paddock packs up and heads to Suzuka, the question hanging over the sport is no longer about who will win the championship — but whether the 2026 rules can be salvaged before the season becomes a laughing stock.
Fernando Alonso has never been afraid to speak the truth. Right now, the truth is hurting.
