Fernando Alonso identifies new Aston Martin issue amid Honda vibration improvements
Originally published by Motorsportweek
Fernando Alonso has highlighted the next agenda item for Aston Martin to improve after the team’s vibration gremlins disappeared at the 2026 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix.
Alonso came into the race weekend at the Miami International Autodrome off the back of a challenging start to F1’s latest era.
The Silverstone-based team has been struggling with its works Honda power unit – both in terms of performance and reliability.
One of the biggest issues for the two-time World Champion were the intense vibrations in the cockpit of the AMR26, something he deemed put him at risk of permanent nerve damage.
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But the Miami GP came as a welcome reprieve for the Spaniard as he attested to the team getting that particular gremlin under control, though the out-right pace is still lackng.
“I’m not sure in terms of performance, I don’t think so. Just the reliability was better. We didn’t have any issues. Vibrations are better,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“But no, performance, I think, is very similar to Japan.”
Fernando Alonso isolates Aston Martin F1 gearbox as its Achilles’ Heel
For the first time in 2026, the duo of Alonso and team-mate Lance Stroll, both, finished a complete Grand Prix distance.
Though they were both a lap down on the leaders and eventual race-winner Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Alonso revealed he was struggling with changing gears, during both upshifting and downshifting.
Looking back at the 57-lap race, Alonso highlighted how the next area to focus on for the team were its gearboxes – something they have undertaken to develop for the first-time ever.
“Honestly, it was more the gearbox the whole weekend than the engine,” he explained.
“So I don’t know — the electronics, something was very weird on the downshifts and the upshifts, so not very well controlled.
“So yeah, that’s the fix number one for Canada. I think with all the heavy braking zones in Canada, we need to improve the gearbox behaviour at the moment.”
Aston Martin were one of the teams to have logged the least amount of mileage during the pre-season tests.
Naturally, they have had a slow start but the data collected so far will be crucial to turning around their fate at the Canadian GP, up next.
READ MORE – Fernando Alonso defends Honda’s nightmare start to 2026