It was a puzzling scene at the Bahrain Grand Prix when Fernando Alonso encountered a bizarre steering wheel issue during FP2.
Fernando Alonso had an unexpected return to the cockpit during the Bahrain Grand Prix when his Aston Martin AMR25 faced a peculiar problem. As he participated in the second practice session, the steering wheel detached in his hands. “Yeah, the car was not working and I could not shift gears at one point,” Alonso remarked, highlighting the severity of the issue.
The steering wheel initially had a blank dashboard, leaving Alonso unable to communicate with his team. The situation escalated when the wheel disengaged as he approached the final corner. Fortunately, Alonso drove cautiously into the run-off area and managed to reattach the wheel before safely returning to the garage for repairs.
The incident drew the attention of the FIA’s technical delegate, Jo Bauer, who swiftly arrived at the Aston Martin garage to investigate. Alonso later explained, “In the last corner, the wheel was off, so yeah, we realized that maybe the steering column or the wheel or something had a problem.” Thanks to quick action by the mechanics, the issue was resolved promptly.
Despite the unsettling experience, Alonso completed FP2 in 15th place, with teammate Lance Stroll in 19th. However, he noted that Bahrain was not a promising track for Aston Martin. “I think it’s going to be a tough weekend,” Alonso predicted, citing pace concerns and the track’s characteristics as challenges for the team.
Regardless of the hurdles, Alonso maintained a determined outlook, expressing a commitment to learning and pushing through the weekend. “We will try to learn. We try to push, and we are not giving up. The race is long on Sunday,” he stated, underscoring his resolve.
While the steering wheel mishap added an unexpected twist to the Bahrain Grand Prix for Fernando Alonso, it also highlighted the challenges Aston Martin faces. With determination and a proactive approach, Alonso and his team are keen to overcome these obstacles in the competitive world of Formula 1 racing.
