SQ1 of the Canadian Grand Prix ended early for Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard, who was looking to improve his lap time, locked his brakes at the braking point of Turn 3 and crashed into the barriers. The impact damaged the front-left suspension and forced him to retire while he was in 14th place. Aston Martin had shown improvement throughout the weekend, but the accident cut short the positive feelings.
The braking that dismantled the development theory 🏎️
The incident puts the focus on the behavior of the AMR24's brake system under high-temperature conditions. The loss of grip on the front axle when entering Turn 3 suggests poor thermal management of the carbon discs, a critical point that Aston Martin is trying to solve with new cooling ducts. Meanwhile, Russell demonstrated consistency by beating Antonelli in qualifying, positioning Mercedes as the benchmark on low-grip circuits.
The Montreal wall also has its preferences 🧱
It seems the Canadian barriers don't distinguish between drivers: they treat a rookie the same as a two-time champion. Alonso joined the list of illustrious drivers who have bitten the asphalt at Turn 3, albeit with an extra dose of drama because his team had already started celebrating the improvement. At least the Spaniard can console himself by watching the replay: his crash was aesthetically perfect, with a lock-up included and a final touch of twisted suspension that even a crash artist would envy.