Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

Hamilton wants "a seat at the table" for F1 drivers in rules talks - but is it viable?

Feature
Formula 1
Miami GP
Hamilton wants "a seat at the table" for F1 drivers in rules talks - but is it viable?

Verstappen: F1 rule changes for Miami GP are "just a tickle"

Formula 1
Miami GP
Verstappen: F1 rule changes for Miami GP are "just a tickle"

Honda details "countermeasures" for Miami GP after horror start to F1 2026 with Aston Martin

Formula 1
Miami GP
Honda details "countermeasures" for Miami GP after horror start to F1 2026 with Aston Martin

Top five roles on Motorsport Jobs this week

General
Top five roles on Motorsport Jobs this week

VR46: 'Plan A' is to keep di Giannantonio for MotoGP 2027

MotoGP
Spanish GP
VR46: 'Plan A' is to keep di Giannantonio for MotoGP 2027

What Apple TV’s Miami Grand Prix coverage means for the future of F1 in the U.S.

Formula 1
Miami GP
What Apple TV’s Miami Grand Prix coverage means for the future of F1 in the U.S.

Top 10 worst follow-ups to title-winning F1 cars

Feature
Formula 1
Top 10 worst follow-ups to title-winning F1 cars

How the MotoGP 2027 rider market impacts the energy drink sponsorship landscape

MotoGP
How the MotoGP 2027 rider market impacts the energy drink sponsorship landscape

Fernando Alonso took F1 engine penalties to prepare for Hungarian GP

Fernando Alonso says his massive grid penalty for the British Grand Prix was taken deliberately to allow him the maximum chance of a big result in the next Formula 1 race

Alonso took a 30-place penalty at Silverstone, after Honda elected to fit a new engine and turbo plus MGU-H and MGU-K recovery systems to his car after Friday practice.

The Spaniard headed into the British GP weekend already facing a five-place penalty for needing a new battery, but 25 extra spots were added to his fine thanks to those extra changes.

Alonso says the extra new components were fitted with the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix in mind, a race that team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne has identified as one of McLaren's best opportunities to score points this season.

Alonso said: "We made some big decisions in Silverstone in terms of taking grid penalties in preparation for this race, and hope that's paid off so we can put ourselves in the best possible position for points this weekend.

"On paper, the Hungaroring presents one of the best opportunities for us this year - the short, twisty circuit means we are less reliant on outright power, and the drivers have to really depend on the capabilities of the chassis to get the best out of the lap.

"The important thing for us, as always, is reliability.

"Even if our car could perform better in Hungary, we need to have a trouble-free weekend to take advantage of every opportunity for points."

McLaren racing director Eric Boullier added: "Together with Honda we're working hard to improve our reliability, and avoiding incurring grid penalties - especially on this track, where our car has the potential to perform more favourably - will be key to increasing our points tally, which we're all so determined to achieve.

"Our pace at Silverstone was marginally better than we initially expected on what is considered to be a power-hungry circuit, and therefore a track traditionally more difficult for our car to adapt to.

"Hungary is a completely different proposition, and one that theoretically gives us optimism that we can put the strengths of our car to the test and better take the fight to our rivals."

McLaren-Honda currently sits bottom of the constructors' championship, with two points for Alonso's ninth place finish in Azerbaijan.

Previous article Red Bull’s new F1 front wing under scrutiny from rivals
Next article Aston Martin open to Formula 1 programme if new rules contain costs

Top Comments

Latest news