The Dutch Grand Prix of Formula 1 was eagerly anticipated by Aston Martin. The team of Fernando Alonso will finally be able to install the new Honda engine, which promises to fix some of the power issues they have been carrying. However, a bit more patience will be required to compete for real.
Because Fernando Alonso will have to start last at Zandvoort, and Lance Stroll as well. The two Aston Martin cars have already exceeded the maximum number of engine components allowed for a season, so to be able to use the new Honda power unit they will have to serve a penalty and start from the back of the pack.
The two Aston Martins will start last in Zandvoort
The Aston Martin is continuing to improve, but Fernando Alonso will not escape the last places. The Asturian driver will again have to start from the back of the grid in Zandvoort, just like his teammate. And this time it won’t be due to performance, but due to the sanction they must serve to be able to mount the new Honda engine.
In Formula 1 there is a limit on engine components that can be used over the course of a year. At most, each driver can use four internal combustion engines, four turbochargers, three MGU-K, three batteries, three ECUs and six auxiliary components. Alonso already exceeds the MGU-K and battery limits, and is right at the limit for ECUs and auxiliary components.
That is, by fitting a completely new engine, Alonso will exceed the four-item limit. The regulations say there are five grid penalties for each category in which the limit is exceeded, but if the total exceeds fifteen positions, the penalty becomes directly the one of starting at the back of the grid.
Let us recall that Alonso had already been penalized for the same reason at Spa-Francorchamps, where he also had to start last due to changes in the engine components. It won’t just be Alonso who bears the penalty at Zandvoort: Lance Stroll will also have to start at the back of the grid for exceeding the limit.
A frustrating situation because with the new engine and some aerodynamic updates that add to those Aston Martin had already unveiled in Hungary, it was expected that Alonso could be very close to scoring points. However, starting last on a narrow circuit where overtaking is difficult, the chances of adding points will be slim.
Perhaps a good opportunity for Alonso could be the Saturday morning Sprint race, for which grid penalties do not weigh on the starting order.
Images | Aston Martin, Formula 1
