Alonso fears Aston Martin won't finish China GP

Fernando Alonso has cast doubt on Aston Martin's ability to finish the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix after a difficult season opener in Australia. The Honda-powered Formula One team experienced significant issues, forcing both Alonso and teammate Lance Stroll to retire from the Melbourne race.

Problems with the power unit limited their laps and subjected them to severe vibrations. Team principal Adrian Newey stated that drivers risked nerve damage from vibrations transmitted through the steering wheel if they exceeded 25 consecutive laps. Furthermore, two of the four batteries supplied by Honda had already failed before the Australian event.

While Aston Martin began a new partnership with Honda for this engine and chassis era, the start has been challenging. Alonso acknowledged the team's hard work, noting improvements since pre-season testing in Bahrain. However, when asked about completing a full race in China, he remained cautious, suggesting it would be "optimistic" but that they would try.

Honda's Shintaro Orihara described the Melbourne event as a step in the right direction for checking battery reliability. Data indicated decreasing battery vibrations, and confidence is growing in completing full race distances. For the China race, Honda aims to build more battery mileage and gather data to enhance performance and energy management.