Aston Martin's Singapore woes: FIA warning for Lance Stroll as Honda disputes Fernando Alonso's turbo claim
Stroll was given a warning for a pre-race procedure breach and later retired, while Honda says Alonso's replaced turbo was not broken after a difficult Singapore GP.
Aston Martin's difficult Singapore Grand Prix weekend has produced two further headlines. Lance Stroll was given a warning by the stewards for breaking a pre-race procedure, and engine partner Honda has publicly disagreed with Fernando Alonso's claim that his turbo was broken. Both cars started the race on Sunday, 11 October 2026, from the pit lane after changes made under parc ferme conditions.
Stroll warned over pre-race procedure
Before the start at Marina Bay, the stewards said they would look into an incident involving Stroll after the race. When he left the pit lane for the reconnaissance laps, he did not carry out a practice start and did not cross the white line at pit exit, as required under the race director's instructions.
After reviewing video evidence, the stewards found he had not followed the instructions and gave him a warning, according to the published decision reported on 12 October. No grid penalty was applied.
Stroll's race ended early. He stopped his car on lap 39, which brought out the Virtual Safety Car. He said the team had seen driveability issues during the race and that the clutch became too hot, forcing him to stop. It was his 11th retirement of the season and his fifth in the last six races.
Honda: turbo 'was not broken'
Alonso had a frustrating weekend from the start. He was the first driver eliminated in Q1 on Saturday, missing out by less than a tenth of a second, and said he had suffered engine problems all day. Honda replaced his power unit overnight, which sent him to the pit lane for the start.
After the race, in which he finished 16th, Alonso told Spanish media that the turbo had been broken and needed replacing. Honda's trackside general manager and chief engineer Shintaro Orihara disagreed, saying the data showed the turbo was not broken. He explained that Honda changed the part anyway because of Alonso's feedback, adding that the driver is "the best sensor" a team has.
Alonso also complained about energy deployment, especially after Virtual Safety Car periods, saying the team lost places because of it. Orihara said energy harvesting varies corner by corner and that balancing energy management, driveability and boost under the 2026 rules is very complicated. Honda plans to investigate further at its Sakura base in Japan before the next race.
A tough first season with Honda
Aston Martin entered 2026 with Honda as its works engine partner, as the new power unit rules came in with almost equal power from the combustion engine and the electrical system. The results have been poor so far. Alonso has scored all seven of the team's points this year, and Aston Martin sit 10th in the constructors' standings.
The pressure is unlikely to ease quickly. The FIA has approved changes for 2027 and 2028 that will shift more output back towards the combustion engine, but in the short term Aston Martin and Honda must find answers within the current rules.
Next up: Austin
The team's next chance to recover comes at the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas from 23 to 25 October. The race starts at 4am Malaysia time on Monday, 26 October.
Key takeaways
- Stroll received a warning for not following pre-race procedure at pit exit in Singapore.
- Stroll retired on lap 39 citing driveability issues and an overheating clutch.
- Honda says Alonso's turbo was not broken but was replaced because of his feedback.
- Both Aston Martins started from the pit lane, and Alonso finished 16th.
- Alonso has scored all seven of Aston Martin's points, leaving the team 10th.
FAQ
What was Lance Stroll's punishment after the Singapore GP? He received a warning from the stewards for not performing a practice start or crossing the white line at pit exit before the race.
Why did Fernando Alonso start from the pit lane in Singapore? His Honda power unit was replaced overnight after qualifying, and the change under parc ferme conditions meant a pit lane start.
When is Aston Martin's next race? The United States Grand Prix in Austin, from 23 to 25 October, with the race at 4am Malaysia time on 26 October.
Sources: PlanetF1, RacingNews365, GrandPrix.com