Alonso crashes out in SQ1 after setting a lap time in Canada

Published on May 24, 2026 | Translated from Spanish

Fernando Alonso had a bittersweet session in the Sprint Qualifying of the Canadian GP. The Asturian set a time that would have granted him access to SQ2, but a mistake in the final corner led him to crash into the wall. The accident damaged the AMR26 and forced his retirement, leaving Aston Martin with no options to fight for Saturday's pole.

Fernando Alonso AMR26 F1 car crashing into concrete wall at final chicane of Circuit Gilles Villeneuve during SQ1, rear suspension components breaking apart, carbon fiber debris scattering across wet track surface, front wing digging into grass runoff area, sparks flying from titanium skid block, dramatic side-impact force visible on cockpit survival cell, cinematic photorealistic racing accident scene, high-speed motion blur, dark overcast Montreal sky, red and green track curbing, marshals waving yellow flags in background, ultra-detailed mechanical damage visualization, realistic crash impact physics

The AMR26 shows potential but fails in the final execution 🏎️

The car's performance in Montreal was solid during the early stages of SQ1. Alonso found grip in the mixed sector, where the car showed good traction. However, the loss of control in the final chicane suggests a possible temperature issue with the front tires or an excess of confidence under braking. Aston Martin will need to review the telemetry data to understand whether it was a human error or a setup limitation.

Alonso decides the wall was a better destination than SQ2 😅

It seems Fernando preferred to spare himself the traffic of the next round. After all, he had already made it clear the car was fast. What we don't know is whether the Montreal wall will return the favor on Sunday. At least, the Asturian made sure his lap was unforgettable, though not for the time, but for the sound of the impact.