Aston Martin’s power unit failure ended Fernando Alonso’s Mexico City Grand Prix qualifying session in Q1, leaving him 18th on the grid. Friday’s pace suggested he might have reached the midfield, but the electrical-related problem erased that chance. Alonso called the lost opportunity “beyond imagination” frustrating.

By the Numbers
  • Alonso qualified 18th after his Q1 session ended early.
  • He was 12th in second practice, 0.769 seconds off the pace.
  • He estimated Aston Martin’s likely qualifying position at 12th or 13th.
Yes, But

A Q3 appearance was probably out of reach, Alonso acknowledged, and his practice results didn’t guarantee a stronger grid spot. Still, he believed a clean qualifying lap could have put him higher than 18th.

State of Play
  • A water-pressure issue linked to the ERS prompted Aston Martin to tell Alonso to stop.
  • Starting near the back could make Sunday harder, with traffic and high temperatures limiting his ability to follow other cars closely.
What's Next

Alonso faces a difficult recovery drive at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, where running in traffic can complicate temperature management. The team’s ability to keep the car reliable will be crucial to making the most of any opportunity.

Bottom Line

Aston Martin showed enough pace to give Alonso hope, but reliability failed when it mattered. The setback captures a season in which promising moments have too often been undone by problems beyond the driver’s control.