The Aston Martin driver endured a difficult race at Marina Bay, with power unit issues reviving memories of his infamous McLaren-Honda criticism.
Fernando Alonso has voiced his frustration with Honda’s power unit following a difficult Singapore Grand Prix, describing the engine as « so ridiculous » in a previously unaired team radio message.
The two-time Formula 1 world champion finished 16th, one lap behind the winner, after starting from the pit lane. His race was compromised by persistent issues with energy deployment, turbo response and overall power unit performance.
The outburst brought back memories of Alonso’s infamous « GP2 engine » criticism during his McLaren-Honda years, when the Spaniard publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with the Japanese manufacturer’s lack of competitiveness.
Aston Martin’s Singapore struggles
Aston Martin arrived in Singapore hoping to build on Alonso’s eighth-place finish in Malaysia. The characteristics of the Marina Bay circuit appeared to offer an opportunity to challenge for points, with outright power unit performance traditionally less decisive than at faster venues.
However, the weekend quickly unravelled.
Both Alonso and teammate Lance Stroll were forced to start from the pit lane following changes to their cars, including the replacement of several power unit components and suspension modifications.
Stroll subsequently retired, while Alonso struggled to make progress through the field.
His frustration became particularly evident when he found himself losing ground to a Cadillac while a Red Bull was able to overtake him comfortably.
In a radio exchange that was not broadcast on the international television feed, Alonso responded with a sarcastic laugh before delivering his verdict.
« The energy… This engine is so ridiculous. »
The remark echoed his famous criticism of Honda at the Japanese Grand Prix during his second spell with McLaren, when he labelled the manufacturer’s power unit a « GP2 engine ».
More than a decade later, Alonso once again finds himself questioning Honda’s performance, this time as part of Aston Martin’s works partnership with the Japanese manufacturer.
Alonso identifies serious power unit problems
Beyond his emotional radio message, Alonso provided a detailed explanation of the technical difficulties affecting his car throughout the Singapore weekend.
The Spaniard believes several aspects of the power unit were not operating as intended, resulting in significant performance losses.
« I think there is something on the power unit that is not working as it should this weekend, » Alonso explained.
« And we need to understand why, because obviously there are a few difficult races coming. Mexico will be the next one, with very slow corners. Maybe Las Vegas and some other street circuits. »
Alonso highlighted turbo response as another major concern, particularly at circuits requiring strong acceleration out of slow-speed corners.
« We need to solve these power unit driveability issues and the turbo lag. There are several things costing us a huge amount of time, and we found that out the hard way this weekend. »
The issue could become particularly significant at the upcoming Mexican Grand Prix, where the high altitude and reduced air density place additional demands on turbocharged engines.
Alonso also revealed that Aston Martin had already been forced to replace his turbocharger ahead of Sunday’s race.
« On Saturday, the turbo was broken, so I had to change it. It was brand new for the race, so there is no excuse on that side. »
Energy deployment adds to Alonso’s frustration
One of Alonso’s biggest complaints concerned the management of electrical energy, particularly following a virtual safety car period.
According to the Spaniard, the system appeared unable to correctly identify his position around the circuit, resulting in energy being deployed in areas where it provided little benefit.
« There were a lot of problems with energy deployment, particularly after the virtual safety car, » he explained.
« I think the car didn’t know exactly where I was on the lap, because the energy was being deployed in different places where I didn’t need it, and it wasn’t being deployed on the straights. So that was quite frustrating. »
Such problems are particularly costly under Formula 1’s 2026 power unit regulations, which place greater emphasis on electrical energy management.
For Aston Martin, the concerns extend beyond a disappointing afternoon in Singapore.
With several demanding circuits still to come, resolving the power unit’s driveability and energy deployment problems will be essential if the team is to avoid further setbacks.
Alonso’s latest radio outburst may have revived an uncomfortable chapter in Honda’s Formula 1 history, but his subsequent technical assessment made clear that the frustration stems from specific performance issues that Aston Martin must urgently understand.
