F1 legend Fernando Alonso explains health issue after Chinese Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin, Belgium, 2024 — Photo: © IMAGO

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F1 legend Fernando Alonso explains health issue after Chinese Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso struggled with an injury in China

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Tuesday 25 March 2025 15:00

Formula 1 legend Fernando Alonso has revealed he was battling a health issue at the Chinese Grand Prix.

The Spaniard's race ended early once again in Shanghai, forced to retire due to a brake issue just four laps into the race.

However, after the race, the two-time world champion revealed that he had been using protective equipment in the car due to a neck problem.

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"I was wearing some neck protection because I've had a pinched nerve or something these past few days," he said to the media after the Chinese GP.

"But in the end, it didn't help much because I didn't do many laps. We had a brake issue. The rear brakes were very hot from the first lap and on the last one before retiring, I hit the brakes into turn one and the pedal went all the way down with no braking power.”

Stroll with the upper hand against Alonso in 2025

In comparison, his team-mate Lance Stroll has finished in the points at every race thus far, and currently sits above Lewis Hamilton in the drivers’ standings with 10 points.

Qualifying has also been a nightmare for Aston Martin for 2025, with both drivers unable to make a Q3 appearance and have been leap-frogged by the likes of Williams and Racing Bulls.

Alonso remains unclassified in the drivers’ standings due to his failure to finish the first two grands prix of the season, but looked forward to Suzuka where he added: “We need to understand what happened and next is a triple-header. Hopefully, I can see the chequered flag for the first time this year and we can turn things around in Japan."

Lewis Hamilton Aston Martin Fernando Alonso Lance Stroll Chinese Grand Prix