Alonso and Stroll both retire from Italian GP
MonzaThe Italian Grand Prix, Round 13 of the Formula 1 season, took place at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.
Fernando Alonso started from the pit lane after changing the Energy Store (ES), Control Electronics (PU-CE) and MGU-K under parc fermé conditions following Qualifying. Lance Stroll started from P18 on the grid.
Stroll lost two positions before Turn 1 at the start, dropping to P20. Alonso started from the pit lane at the back of the 22-car field, behind Liam Lawson (Red Bull).
On the opening lap, Stroll briefly overtook Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) on the straight before the final corner, but was immediately repassed by Bottas and Lawson. On Lap 2, Stroll used the tow on the main straight to pass Bottas down the inside of Turn 1 and return to P20. Approaching the Turn 4 chicane, he defended the inside, but Bottas regained the position on the exit.
Alonso then passed Stroll on the straight between Turns 7 and 8. He also used the tow to draw alongside Bottas in P19 and moved ahead approaching the final corner. However, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) crashed there. Alonso had depleted his battery energy and lost momentum on the following main straight, allowing Bottas and Stroll back past.
Yellow flags were shown following Leclerc’s crash, before the Safety Car (SC) was deployed. The race was subsequently red-flagged.
The restart procedure began around 30 minutes later, but Yuki Tsunoda’s car (Racing Bulls) was not correctly positioned within its designated grid box, prompting an extra formation lap. The race resumed on Lap 6.
Alonso restarted from the back on Soft tyres and moved ahead of Stroll immediately, but was boxed in between Bottas and Carlos Sainz (Williams) and had to slow. Stroll was back ahead by Turn 1.
On Hard tyres, Stroll overtook Bottas down the inside of Turn 1. At the exit of Turn 2, with three cars side by side, he also passed Alexander Albon (Williams) and Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) to move up to P17. Both drivers then repassed him under acceleration, dropping Stroll back to P19.
Alonso used the tow to pass three cars by Turn 1 on Lap 7 and climb to P18. He then battled Sergio Perez (Cadillac), moving into P17 on the main straight on Lap 22.
Alonso pitted on Lap 23 and retired from the race.
Stroll also slowed on the main straight on Lap 28 and went straight on into the Turn 1 escape road. He stopped at the side of the track, bringing his race to an end.
My race today ended early after I picked up some damage to the car when I hit a kerb. We decided to stop to make sure there was no further damage. Until then, I was battling with the Cadillacs and trying to get the most out of the car. Now we look ahead to Spain next week and a new circuit for all of us.
My race today ended early after I picked up some damage to the car when I hit a kerb. We decided to stop to make sure there was no further damage. Until then, I was battling with the Cadillacs and trying to get the most out of the car. Now we look ahead to Spain next week and a new circuit for all of us.
We had to retire the car with a suspected hydraulic issue, but we were struggling in the race anyway. We know we don't have the power we need at the moment and today was further proof of that. On paper, Madrid looks slightly better for us so the focus shifts to that now.
We had to retire the car with a suspected hydraulic issue, but we were struggling in the race anyway. We know we don't have the power we need at the moment and today was further proof of that. On paper, Madrid looks slightly better for us so the focus shifts to that now.
An early finish for both cars in Monza today. A hydraulic issue forced Lance to retire, while Fernando picked up some car damage running wide through turn seven. This circuit may not have suited our package, but we will take the data and learnings forward and hope to be more competitive in Madrid next weekend.
An early finish for both cars in Monza today. A hydraulic issue forced Lance to retire, while Fernando picked up some car damage running wide through turn seven. This circuit may not have suited our package, but we will take the data and learnings forward and hope to be more competitive in Madrid next weekend.
We knew this race weekend in Monza would be challenging for us as our power unit is missing performance. We move on from this together with the team and look forward to Madrid next week which will be a different circuit characteristic to here.
We knew this race weekend in Monza would be challenging for us as our power unit is missing performance. We move on from this together with the team and look forward to Madrid next week which will be a different circuit characteristic to here.
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