Aston Martin’s turbulent weekend at the Belgian Grand Prix took a dramatic turn as two-time world champion Fernando Alonso faced a significant grid penalty, further complicating the team’s already challenging season. With teammate Lance Stroll also penalized, the Silverstone-based squad is left scrambling for a glimmer of hope ahead of their upcoming upgrades at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The 2026 season has been a tough ride for Aston Martin, who have struggled to find their footing, managing to secure only a single point from the first nine races. That lone point came courtesy of Alonso at Monaco, but the prospect of replicating that success in Belgium seems bleak after the FIA’s latest announcement.
Following the third practice session, it was revealed that Alonso had incurred multiple penalties due to significant changes to his power unit, resulting in a staggering drop to the back of the grid. Just a day prior, Stroll had been handed a 10-place penalty for exceeding the allowable number of MGU-Ks for the season, setting the stage for a challenging race.
Alonso’s situation is even more dire, as he has reportedly exceeded the limits for energy stores, control electronics, and ancillary components, accumulating a total of 20 places in penalties. According to an official FIA statement, the combination of these infractions mandates that Alonso must start from the very back of the grid, a rule that applies when a driver exceeds 15 cumulative penalties.
In a twist, Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar will also start from the back, making the grid for Sunday’s race particularly crowded at the bottom. Alonso is set to line up in 22nd, just behind Hadjar, while Stroll will start in 21st after the penalties are applied.
Despite the setbacks, Aston Martin is hoping for a turnaround with their upcoming upgrades. The team desperately needs a boost to turn their fortunes around before heading to Hungary. Will these changes finally bring the performance they’ve been longing for, or will they continue to face uphill battles?
