Fernando Alonso reveals a neck issue after a DNF in China, raising fresh concerns over his fitness early in the F1 season.
As the two-time world champion nears his 44th birthday this July, the Aston Martin driver has revealed he’s been racing through yet another injury — this time, a suspected pinched nerve in his neck.
Alonso was forced to retire early from Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix, which may have spared him further discomfort. His AMR25 suffered brake overheating issues just laps into the race.
It’s not the first time Alonso has battled physical pain behind the wheel. Last season, he pushed through back and shoulder problems, especially noticeable on the bumpy Brazilian track.
“You just take a painkiller and go,” he said at the time, almost brushing it off.
But with two injuries in just a handful of races this season, the question has to be asked: should we be worried about Alonso’s health?
“I’m fine,” Alonso responded. “I was wearing a neck brace because of a pinched nerve or something like that. But in the end, it didn’t really matter — I didn’t do many laps anyway.”
Reflecting on his DNF, he gave more insight into what went wrong.
“We had brake issues. The rear brakes were overheating from lap one, and on my final lap, I hit the brakes into Turn 1 and the pedal just went straight to the floor — no braking power at all.”
“Luckily, it was a long corner and I could slow the car down using engine braking. If it had happened at Turn 14, where braking is much heavier, I probably would’ve taken out five or six cars. Honestly, we were lucky.”
With a triple-header of races coming up, Alonso and Aston Martin now face mounting pressure. Two retirements already this season — and not a single race finish so far — mean the clock is ticking.
“I just want to see the chequered flag in Japan,” he said. “It’s time to turn things around.”
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Alonso’s Neck Worry Adds to Aston Martin Troubles
Alonso’s Neck Worry Adds to Aston Martin Troubles
