Alonso to start Zandvoort sprint from pit lane after Aston Martin struggles with upgraded Honda power unit
Fernando Alonso will start the Zandvoort sprint from the pit lane after a difficult sprint qualifying session for Aston Martin. Alonso said driveability problems linked to Honda’s upgraded power unit made the car hard to stop under braking.
Aston Martin endured a troubled sprint qualifying session at Zandvoort, with Fernando Alonso ending up at the back of the field and set to start the sprint from the pit lane. The team is running Honda’s upgraded second-specification V6 power unit this weekend in the Netherlands, where the manufacturer chose to introduce its one in-season update.
Alonso said more work is needed to optimise the more powerful engine. Describing the issue, he said that when braking, the throttle was still open, which made the car difficult to stop.
Reports also said Aston Martin confirmed a key car fix after the session. Alonso’s team-mate Lance Stroll has also received the updated Honda power unit.