ZANDVOORT – Fernando Alonso says more work is needed to optimise Honda’s new spec power unit after struggling in Sprint qualifying at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Aston Martin is running Honda’s upgraded power unit at Zandvoort, but drivability issues meant both Alonso and his teammate Lance Stroll were eliminated in SQ1.
Fernando Alonso explains Aston Martin’s Honda power unit problems
Alonso’s Dutch Grand Prix weekend got off to an encouraging start in Friday’s practice session where the Spaniard was 12th fastest, two-tenths of a second shy of the top 10.
However, it fell apart in Sprint qualifying when Alonso locked his front brakes and went off into the gravel on his first flying lap.
His second attempt was more than three seconds slower than the lap time set by SQ1 pace-setter Charles Leclerc and half a second slower than the second-slowest driver, Sergio Perez.
Alonso will line up at the very back of the grid for Saturday’s Sprint, with Stroll in 19th place.
The double world champion blamed his Honda power unit’s drivability.
“Free practice was more or less okay, but in qualifying, we had problems on the engine drivability,” he told PlanetF1.com and other accredited media in Zandvoort.
“It was pushing under braking, so it was difficult to stop the car sometimes because the engine was over-delivering.
“And then apparently, the SLM [straight line mode] didn’t work for me, so I could not open the rear wing.
“A combination of both made the laps very tricky.
“When you brake, and the throttle is open, it’s difficult to stop the car.”
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But it wasn’t all bad, the Spaniard insisted.
“As I said, free practice felt okay,” he added, “and I felt a step forward.
“It’s still very early days and [the PU] is probably a bit immature with all of the controls.
“It’s a Sprint weekend – on a normal weekend, we have three practice sessions to nail the package.
“Obviously, on a Sprint, we need to deal with the situation in qualifying session and in the Sprint race. We will try to understand a few things.”
Additional reporting by Thomas Maher
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