Shanghai – The start of the 2025 Formula 1 season has not been kind to Aston Martin, as driver Fernando Alonso was forced into an early retirement during the Chinese Grand Prix, marking yet another disappointment for the veteran racer. This latest incident occurred on March 23, 2025, just four laps into the race, after he began from a challenging 13th position.
Alonso had made a clean start, moving up to 12th place, but things quickly took a turn for the worse. Smoke began to billow from the right rear of his car, raising concerns that something was amiss. Teammate Pierre Gasly, who was racing behind Alonso, flagged the issue before the 43-year-old ultimately had to pull aside. Alonso informed the team over the radio, stating that he had "no brakes," which led to a slow return to the pit lane and his subsequent retirement.
This latest retirement adds to Alonso’s woes, as it also marks a repeat of a similar fate during his last race at the Shanghai International Circuit in 2017. The Aston Martin team confirmed that the stop was precautionary due to rear brake temperatures exceeding norms, forcing their hand to retire the car early.
Before the race, Alonso had already expressed frustration following a less-than-ideal qualifying session where he missed out on reaching Q3 by just a tenth of a second. "It wasn't the best Qualifying for us today and we missed out on the top 10 by one tenth," he remarked, attributing part of the difficulty to traffic on out-laps that similarly affected all drivers. Despite the challenges, he maintained a hopeful outlook for the race, stating, "We ended up making a few set-up changes to the car between the Sprint and Qualifying to help with improving tyre degradation for the race. We couldn't see any advantage today, but let's see if these changes have helped. I'm still hopeful for some opportunities tomorrow and we will try to score some points."
Alonso wasn't the only driver on the Aston Martin team facing challenges over the weekend. His teammate Lance Stroll started the Sprint race from 10th position and was able to improve to 9th but fell just outside the points. Stroll echoed Alonso's sentiment regarding the difficulties of managing tire performance, acknowledging, "We have tried to get into Q2 but we had to expect this level. The tyres complicated things, but all had challenges. We will continue to push and give it all tomorrow."
Qualifying proved problematic for both drivers, with Stroll finishing the session in the 10th position, marking a tough start to their weekend. Aston Martin trackside officer Mike Krack highlighted the squad's struggle during qualifying, pointing out that it was a reflection of their current car pace. "We made some set-up changes to both cars after the Sprint and both Lance and Fernando had pretty clean sessions. We saw in the Sprint this morning just how tough this track is on tyres so managing tyre degradation will be a major challenge tomorrow too," Krack stated.
The challenges faced in Shanghai continue to raise questions about the team's performance this season. The early retirements coupled with media reports of strategic adjustments highlight that Aston Martin is in a phase of refinement and recovery aimed at improving their position for future races. As Alonso looks to improve upon his lackluster results, both he and Stroll aim to utilize their time on the track to gain valuable insights into tire wear and car handling.
Staying optimistic, however, is crucial for the duo. While the opening race in Australia concluded with Alonso's retirement due to a crash on lap 34, the team remains focused on refining their strategies and tuning their setup ahead of the next race, looking to break through the early season struggles.
As the team prepares for the next round of races, the focus remains not only on recovery from the disappointing moments in Shanghai but also on the potential that lies ahead. Both drivers remain committed to pushing the limits of their equipment and strategy, hopeful that with each track session, they can secure the vital points necessary for their championship aspirations. Will the adjustments made after this weekend yield the results that Aston Martin so desperately needs? Only time will tell as the F1 circus moves to the next destination.
