Fernando Alonso explains Canadian GP sprint qualifying crash

Two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso has crashed out of qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix sprint race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

The Spanish driver suffered a lock-up on his way into Turn 3, missed the escape road and crashed head-on into the wall. “Yeah sorry, lock-up mate,” Alonso said over the Aston Martin team radio as the red flag was waved and the other drivers returned to the pits.

Alonso’s crash came with only 1m46s left on the clock of the SQ1 session. At the time of his collision, Alonso had the 14th-fastest time, so could still progress through to SQ2 as the remaining drivers have minimal time to set another flying lap time.

“I locked up the front and there is no room to avoid anything here in Canada. Too much on the limit,” Alonso told Sky Sports F1 after the incident. “We are a little behind with the pace so we were pushing seven or eight places more than we should have.”

Former F1 driver and Sky Sports analyst Martin Brundle said of those at risk of elimination: “The track is evolving and the teams are desperate not to waste a second. We have 106 seconds available, and they need to get out of the pitlane and up to speed.”

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Photo by: Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images

At the time of writing, the drivers at risk are Sergio Perez, Lance Stroll, Pierre Gasly and Valtteri Bottas. Alex Albon and Liam Lawson were already eliminated as neither was able to take part in the session.

It has been a torrid start to the 2026 season for the Silverstone outfit. After heading into the year with a new power unit partnership with Honda and its first car designed under the leadership of Adrian Newey, expectations were high for Aston Martin. But the reality has seen both Alonso and his team-mate Stroll battling against multiple issues.

Alonso currently sits 21st in the drivers’ standings with no points.

Photos from Canadian GP – Friday