Fernando Alonso reflects on Honda struggles and the “GP2 engine” moment
1. A tough start with Honda again
Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team and
Honda have endured a difficult start to the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Key issues include:
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Severe battery vibrations from the power unit
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Bodywork problems during testing
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Numbness in Alonso’s hands after about 25 minutes of driving
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Reliability problems in the opening race
Alonso eventually retired from the
Australian Grand Prix after early issues, returning briefly before parking the car.
2. Alonso’s calm approach today
Unlike his past frustrations, Alonso now takes a more pragmatic view.
He explained that most drivers in F1 are not fighting for wins anyway:
“We have 22 drivers. One will win. The other 21 are in a difficult situation.”
For him:
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Finishing third, fifth, or seventeenth makes little difference compared to winning.
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His focus now is helping the team improve rather than venting frustration.
3. The famous “GP2 engine” comment
The situation naturally recalls Alonso’s famous radio message at the
2015 Japanese Grand Prix when driving for
McLaren:
“GP2 engine! GP2!”
At the time Honda had just returned to F1 and the power unit was severely underpowered.
The remark became one of the most iconic radio messages in F1 history.
4. Alonso says the criticism wasn’t just him
Alonso pointed out that the frustrations were shared by everyone at McLaren:
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Jenson Button
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Stoffel Vandoorne
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the entire McLaren team
He believes people now understand that the Honda project was not ready when it launched.
5. Helping Honda improve in 2026
Instead of criticizing, Alonso says the focus now is collaboration.
Aston Martin is:
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Allocating engineering resources to help Honda
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Using modern data analysis and GPS data
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Working on vibration fixes and energy deployment issues
He admitted the partnership has had a “bumpy start”, but warned that the solution won’t be immediate.
Key takeaway:
A decade after the “GP2 engine” controversy, Alonso is approaching Honda’s latest struggles with far more patience, focusing on helping Aston Martin and Honda solve their technical issues rather than venting frustration.