News Summary
- Fernando Alonso says Aston Martin used the same car, setup and power unit at Baku and Sepang despite a major difference in performance.
- The Spaniard believes the team’s competitiveness depends heavily on circuit layout, particularly the length of the straights.
- Asked why Singapore could offer another opportunity, Alonso replied simply: “Less straights.”
Fernando Alonso believes Aston Martin could enjoy another competitive Formula 1 weekend in Singapore, but has warned that the team’s improved performance at Sepang does not mean it has solved the problems affecting the AMR26.
The two-time world champion finished eighth in Malaysia after a strong recovery through the midfield, giving Aston Martin valuable championship points. However, Alonso dismissed suggestions that the team had discovered a better setup or operating window for the car.
Speaking during Thursday’s FIA press conference in Singapore, he explained that the AMR26 had remained unchanged between Azerbaijan and Malaysia, despite the enormous difference in competitiveness.
“The car was exactly the same, physically the same, set up the same, power unit the same. Everything was the same as Baku, five days before Malaysia. The performance difference was huge,” Alonso said.
Alonso says Aston Martin’s performance depends on the circuit
Aston Martin struggled at Baku, where long straights and sustained high-speed sections exposed limitations in its overall package. At Sepang, however, Alonso was able to fight more effectively in the midfield and convert the car’s performance into points.
The Spaniard stressed that the improvement was not the result of changes made by the team.
“It’s not about experimenting with the setup or having the car more in the window or something that we can do on track unfortunately,” he explained.
“It depends so much on the layout and the straights we have on that weekend.”
That assessment points towards a fundamental limitation of the AMR26. Aston Martin’s competitiveness is heavily influenced by the demands of individual circuits, particularly those where long straights increase the importance of power-unit performance and aerodynamic efficiency.
The contrast between Baku and Sepang illustrates why Alonso remains cautious about predicting consistent results during the final seven rounds.
Why Singapore could offer another opportunity
Singapore presents a very different challenge from Azerbaijan.
The Marina Bay Street Circuit features numerous slow and medium-speed corners, repeated braking and acceleration zones and relatively short straights compared with Baku.
Those characteristics could reduce the disadvantage Aston Martin experiences at circuits where outright straight-line performance plays a greater role.
Asked directly by Tom Clarkson why Singapore might be another opportunity for the team, Alonso needed only two words.
“Less straights.”
The response reflected his earlier explanation: Aston Martin does not necessarily need a different car to perform better, but it does need a circuit that places less emphasis on its weaknesses.
Marina Bay’s demanding layout also rewards mechanical grip, traction and confidence under braking, although those characteristics do not guarantee that the AMR26 will repeat its Malaysian result.
Aston Martin still faces an inconsistent final stretch
Alonso’s eighth place at Sepang provided encouragement after several difficult races, but the Spaniard does not believe Aston Martin has found a solution that will work at every remaining circuit.
The team’s performance remains sensitive to track characteristics, leaving the final phase of the championship difficult to predict.
Singapore could nevertheless provide another opportunity to score points, particularly if Aston Martin can reproduce the midfield competitiveness demonstrated in Malaysia.
The sprint format creates an additional challenge because teams have only one practice session before competitive running begins on Friday.
The Singapore GP takes place from October 9-11, with the sprint on Saturday and the Grand Prix on Sunday at 20:00 local time.
GRANDE PRÊMIO follows all the latest Formula 1 news throughout the Singapore GP weekend.
F1 today: FAQ
What time is the 2026 Singapore GP?
The Singapore GP starts at 20:00 local time on Sunday, October 11. That is 13:00 in the UK, 08:00 ET in the US and Canada and 17:30 in India. Singapore is a sprint weekend, with sprint qualifying on Friday and the sprint on Saturday.
Why does George Russell have a grid penalty in Singapore?
Russell has exhausted his permitted allocation of four engines after suffering a power-unit failure at Sepang. Mercedes must introduce another unit, triggering a grid penalty for Sunday’s Grand Prix. The penalty does not apply to Saturday’s sprint.
Can Kimi Antonelli win the F1 championship in Singapore?
No. Antonelli leads Russell by 84 points, 320 to 236, but cannot mathematically secure the 2026 title in Singapore. His first opportunity to become world champion comes at the United States GP in Austin.
Why does Fernando Alonso think Singapore could suit Aston Martin?
Alonso believes Singapore’s shorter straights could reduce the disadvantages Aston Martin experiences at circuits such as Baku, where straight-line performance is particularly important.
