Alonso finishes P16, Stroll retires with clutch issue
Marina BayOn Sunday 11 October, the 2026 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix (Round 17) took place over 62 laps at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in dry conditions, with an air temperature of approximately 30°C and track temperatures ranging from 41°C to 44°C.
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Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team™ made changes to the suspension set-up of both cars under parc fermé conditions and fitted Fernando Alonso’s car, number 14, with his sixth turbocharger of the season. Under the regulations, the suspension changes meant that both Alonso and Lance Stroll were required to start from the pit lane.
The FIA’s final starting grid listed the three pit-lane starters in the order of Alonso, Stroll and Isack Hadjar (Red Bull). However, the cars actually lined up at the pit exit in the order of Hadjar, Alonso and Stroll.
The race got under way at 8:03 pm local time, with both drivers starting their recovery drives from the pit lane without major issues. Alonso completed the opening lap in P21 before overtaking Hadjar at Turn 1 on Lap 2 to move up to P20. He then went down the inside of Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) at Turn 13 to take P19. Stroll completed the opening lap in P22 and moved up to P21 after overtaking Bottas on the inside at Turn 14 on Lap 3.
On Lap 7, Alonso overtook Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi), who had slowed at the final corner (Turn 19), around the outside to move up to P18. On the following lap, Stroll also passed Bortoleto on the main straight to take P20. Bortoleto subsequently stopped his car near the pit-lane exit, triggering a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) period, which ended on Lap 9.
During the middle stages of the race, pit stops by Sergio Perez (Cadillac) on Lap 21 and Alexander Albon (Williams) on Lap 22 allowed Alonso to move up to P17. Meanwhile, Stroll made his pit stop on Lap 26, switching from Soft to Medium tyres. He rejoined in P20, one lap down.
From Lap 30 onwards, Alonso continued to gain positions as other drivers made their pit stops, reaching P13 by the end of Lap 34. He pitted on Lap 35 to switch from Soft to Medium tyres and rejoined in P17. On Lap 37, he set his personal fastest lap of 1:38.032.
In the second half of the race, as the leader was completing Lap 39, Stroll ran deep under braking for Turn 14 and went straight into the escape road. Although he managed to reverse and return to the track, he continued at reduced speed before stopping his car at Turn 15. The team instructed him over the radio to stop the car and informed him that there was a clutch issue.
Marshals worked to recover Stroll’s car near Turn 15, prompting another VSC period. According to the FIA’s official classification, Stroll retired after completing 36 laps.
Alonso subsequently moved up to P16 following Albon’s pit stop and maintained that position through the closing stages, finishing P16, one lap behind the race winner.
It was a difficult weekend overall, not just the race. We knew starting from the pit lane would make things difficult, especially at a circuit where overtaking is not easy. I did what I could, but we didn’t have the pace to fight for much more. We struggled with driveability throughout the weekend, hopefully we can get on top of these issues before the next triple-header.
It was a difficult weekend overall, not just the race. We knew starting from the pit lane would make things difficult, especially at a circuit where overtaking is not easy. I did what I could, but we didn’t have the pace to fight for much more. We struggled with driveability throughout the weekend, hopefully we can get on top of these issues before the next triple-header.
We made some setup changes overnight so started from the pit lane today. We had driveability issues during the race and then the clutch overheated so we had to retire on Lap 39. We will need to look into it and try to make things better for the next one.
We made some setup changes overnight so started from the pit lane today. We had driveability issues during the race and then the clutch overheated so we had to retire on Lap 39. We will need to look into it and try to make things better for the next one.
If you start from the pitlane on a circuit like Singapore it was clear that we were going to have a very challenging evening. Both drivers pushed hard and extracted everything they could from the car. Fernando climbed to P16, while Lance unfortunately had to retire with a clutch issue. We will regroup, continue pushing and be ready to go again in Austin. To the whole team, but especially the crews in the garage and hospitality, thank you for the hard work and commitment over the last three weeks.
If you start from the pitlane on a circuit like Singapore it was clear that we were going to have a very challenging evening. Both drivers pushed hard and extracted everything they could from the car. Fernando climbed to P16, while Lance unfortunately had to retire with a clutch issue. We will regroup, continue pushing and be ready to go again in Austin. To the whole team, but especially the crews in the garage and hospitality, thank you for the hard work and commitment over the last three weeks.
We came into this race with a certain level of expectation, having scored points at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. However, the outcome ultimately fell short of where we had hoped to be.
Looking at our package as a whole, I believe this result reflects our current level of competitiveness relative to our rivals.
Following the replacement of power unit components under parc fermé conditions, both cars were required to start the race from the pit lane. Given the characteristics of the Singapore circuit, where overtaking is hard, we anticipated it would be a difficult race. At the same time, we were able to gather a significant amount of data throughout the weekend, and we aim to use the insights gained here to support our development and preparation for the upcoming races.
We came into this race with a certain level of expectation, having scored points at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. However, the outcome ultimately fell short of where we had hoped to be.
Looking at our package as a whole, I believe this result reflects our current level of competitiveness relative to our rivals.
Following the replacement of power unit components under parc fermé conditions, both cars were required to start the race from the pit lane. Given the characteristics of the Singapore circuit, where overtaking is hard, we anticipated it would be a difficult race. At the same time, we were able to gather a significant amount of data throughout the weekend, and we aim to use the insights gained here to support our development and preparation for the upcoming races.
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