The highly anticipated Chinese Grand Prix saw an early exit for the veteran Fernando Alonso as Fernando Alonso retires Chinese Grand Prix after just a handful of laps. The Aston Martin driver, starting from 13th on the grid, experienced a concerning issue with his car, forcing him to return to the pit lane and retire prematurely. This marks a disappointing end to the race for the Spaniard, who had hoped for a better outcome at the Shanghai International Circuit.
Key Takeaways:
- Fernando Alonso retired from the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix on lap four due to reported brake issues.
- Smoke was seen emanating from the rear of his Aston Martin AMR25 before he reported “no brakes” over the radio.
- Aston Martin confirmed the retirement was a precautionary stop due to managing rear brake temperatures.
- This is Alonso’s second retirement at the Shanghai International Circuit.
Why Did Fernando Alonso Retire So Early from the Chinese GP?
The hopes for a strong race for Fernando Alonso in the Chinese Grand Prix were dashed in the early stages as Fernando Alonso retires Chinese Grand Prix just four laps into the event. The Aston Martin driver, who had managed to gain a position from his starting grid slot of 13th, encountered a problem that quickly became apparent to those watching. Smoke began to billow from the right rear of his AMR25, signaling a potential mechanical failure. Pierre Gasly, running behind Alonso, was among the first to notice the issue.
Moments later, the severity of the problem became clear as Alonso reported over the team radio that he had “no brakes.” This is a critical issue for any driver, especially on a demanding circuit like Shanghai. With safety being paramount, Alonso had no choice but to pull his car to the side of the track before slowly making his way back to the pit lane. The team then made the official call to retire the car, bringing an abrupt end to Alonso’s race weekend.
Aston Martin’s Explanation for Alonso’s Retirement
Following Fernando Alonso’s early exit, the Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team provided an explanation for the retirement. In a statement released on social media, the team confirmed that the stop was “precautionary.” They elaborated by stating, “The team were managing an issue with rear brake temperatures, so had to make a precautionary stop and retire the car” (Source: RacingNews365). This suggests that the smoke and Alonso’s report of “no brakes” were likely linked to overheating issues in the rear braking system of his car.
While the team described the stop as precautionary, the fact that Alonso reported a complete loss of braking ability indicates a serious concern that could have potentially led to a dangerous situation on track. The decision to retire the car was undoubtedly the safest course of action, even though it meant an early end to Alonso’s race. The team will likely be investigating the exact cause of the brake temperature issues to prevent similar incidents in future races.
Alonso’s Disappointing Start to the 2025 Season Continues
The retirement at the Chinese Grand Prix adds to what has been a less than ideal start to the 2025 Formula 1 season for Fernando Alonso. Earlier in the season, at the rain-soaked opener in Australia, Alonso also suffered a retirement. On that occasion, his race came to an end on lap 34 due to a crash. These two retirements in the initial races of the season will undoubtedly be a source of frustration for the experienced Spanish driver and the Aston Martin team as they look to build momentum and secure valuable championship points (Source: Motorsport.com).
Despite the setbacks, Alonso remains a highly competitive driver with a wealth of experience. Prior to the race in Shanghai, after qualifying in 13th position, Alonso expressed his hopes for the race, stating, “I’m still hopeful for some opportunities tomorrow and we will try to score some points.” He also mentioned that the team had made some setup changes to the car between the Sprint race and Qualifying to try and improve tire degradation for the main race. Unfortunately, these changes did not translate into a trouble-free run for Alonso on race day.
Team Principal Mike Krack’s Perspective on the Weekend
Aston Martin trackside officer Mike Krack provided his insights into the team’s performance throughout the weekend. He acknowledged the strong Sprint race for both drivers, with Lance Stroll narrowly missing out on a point. Regarding the qualifying result, Krack suggested it was “just a reflection of our car pace right now.” He also highlighted the setup changes made to both cars after the Sprint, noting that both Alonso and Stroll had relatively clean qualifying sessions.
Krack also emphasized the challenging nature of the Shanghai circuit in terms of tyre degradation, stating it would be a major challenge for the race. He mentioned that the team would continue their analysis overnight to identify areas for improvement for the race, with the aim of progressing into the points. While Stroll managed to finish the race, Alonso’s early retirement due to the brake issue meant that the team’s efforts to secure points with both cars were unsuccessful. The focus will now shift to understanding and resolving the reliability concerns as the season progresses. You can compare this challenging start to the season with the early stages of the MLB season start for different teams.
