Yesterday at 10:31
Aston Martin has confirmed the cause of Fernando Alonso's seemingly
sudden suspension failure during the Italian Grand Prix. Having
lined up for the race at Monza in eighth, the two-time F1 drivers'
champion was running in a net seventh place, ahead of protégé
Gabriel Bortoleto, and looked poised for a seventh points-scoring
finish of the campaign, all from the past eight rounds after a slow
start to the season. However, after contact with the kerb on the
exit of the Ascari Chicane (Turn 10), the suspension on his AMR25
gave way. "Suspension failure. This is unbelievable," the
44-year-old told the Silverstone squad in despair over team radio.
Aston Martin has explained that it was, in fact, not a sudden
failure on the Spanish driver's car, although it was unexpected.
"The team can confirm some gravel hit Fernando's car in the first
lap of the race in multiple areas, including his suspension, which
compromised it," a spokesperson for Aston Martin told RacingNews365
. "The team were unaware of the damage sustained. Low-level
continuous loading caused the eventual failure of the part." Aston
Martin and Alonso will be looking to continue their recent strong
form at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The team sits sixth in the
constructors' standings, 24 points adrift of Williams ahead, and
the 32-time grand prix winner has collected 30 of its 62 points for
the year.