Home / Sports / F1 Star Fernando Alonso Criticizes Grid's 'Very Low' Quality
F1 Star Fernando Alonso Criticizes Grid's 'Very Low' Quality
26 Oct
Summary
- Alonso reported extensive damage after a first-lap collision with Alex Albon.
- The Aston Martin driver believes low-quality backmarkers risk F1 race incidents.
- Albon suggested the contact was due to racing on the inside and a tight corner.
Fernando Alonso, driving for Aston Martin, expressed strong criticism regarding the caliber of drivers occupying the back positions on the Formula 1 grid following the United States Grand Prix. The incident occurred on the opening lap when Alex Albon's Williams collided with Alonso's Aston Martin, causing significant damage that Alonso deemed extensive. He suggested that the "very low" quality of drivers in the latter part of the grid increases the risk of such collisions.
Alonso, who eventually finished 16th with Albon behind him, indicated that without the damage, points would have been a strong possibility, especially as he was running 12th with a compromised car. This incident further highlighted Aston Martin's struggles throughout the 2026 season, with reliability issues and performance upgrades keeping them in contention with backmarkers like Williams and Cadillac.
Alex Albon, however, offered a different viewpoint on the collision. He described racing Alonso as fun and fair, suggesting the contact may have occurred as he was on the inside and the corner tightened. Albon also noted the challenges faced by backmarker teams when being lapped by leaders, describing the race as a constant focus on mirrors due to frequent blue flags.
