As Free Practice 2 kicked off in Bahrain, Fernando Alonso faced an unexpected steering wheel issue, sparking FIA interest.
- Alonso was merely two laps into the session when his steering wheel detached mid-drive, sending Aston Martin and the FIA into a flurry of activity.
- Despite his wheel coming loose, Alonso deftly managed to reconnect it, ensuring a safe return to the pits for a quick fix.
- The Aston Martin team quickly got to work, replacing more than just the wheel, and Alonso was back on track after 15 minutes.
- While Aston Martin tinkered with their hardware, McLaren dominated the circuit, with Oscar Piastri leading the charging pack.
In the midst of the Bahrain Grand Prix build-up, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso found himself in a surprising predicament during Free Practice 2. Just as the session began, Alonso’s radio crackled with urgency as he reported a malfunctioning steering wheel that began to intermittently switch off. “Change the steering wheel,” Alonso directed, trying to manage the situation from the cockpit.
As his race engineer communicated back, suggesting a simple swap might be necessary, things took a more dramatic turn. Approaching the final corner before entering the pit lane, Alonso’s steering wheel came completely loose, detaching from the steering column. Despite this unexpected event, the seasoned driver showed his experience by quickly refitting the steering wheel, safely guiding his car back to the pits without further incident.
Aston Martin mechanics jumped into action, soon realizing that the issue was more complex than it initially appeared. Instead of merely swapping out the wheel, they embarked on a full steering column replacement. This unexpected repair job took roughly 15 minutes, but Alonso was up against the clock as he returned to the track for the final moments of the practice session. He managed to finish 15th, outperforming his teammate Lance Stroll, who ended the session in 19th.
Given the gravity of a steering column malfunction, the FIA’s curiosity was piqued, prompting their technical delegate, Jo Bauer, to investigate the situation in person. While neither Aston Martin nor the FIA have yet provided a clear explanation, the investigation continues. Amidst all this, Alonso’s practice time was further truncated as he had already ceded his seat in FP1 to test driver Felipe Drugovich.
As Aston Martin faced their mechanical challenges, McLaren set the standard in Bahrain, with Oscar Piastri leading Free Practice 2, ensuring that while steering issues sidelined Alonso temporarily, the larger race narrative continued unabated.
Alonso’s unexpected steering wheel saga at Bahrain underscores the unpredictability of racing, as Aston Martin and the FIA continue to search for answers.
