Footage from the Brazilian Grand Prix showed Fernando Alonso’s painful exit from his Aston Martin after a tough race at Interlagos. Starting in ninth position due to a crash in the delayed morning qualifying, Alonso struggled throughout the race, finishing in a distant 14th place. He experienced intense discomfort caused by extreme porpoising, which led to severe back pain. During the closing laps, Alonso told his team over the radio, “I will finish the race for the mechanics… but my back is hurting, man. This bouncing is not normal.” Despite his agony, he pushed through the final laps out of respect for his team’s efforts.
After the race, fan-captured footage from the pit area highlighted Alonso’s physical struggle as he tried to exit his car. With assistance from two Aston Martin mechanics, he slowly stood up, leaning on the car’s halo for support and visibly in pain. Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, who had retired earlier in the race, stopped by and appeared concerned for Alonso. After steadying himself, Alonso received a comforting pat on the back from one of his mechanics before walking away, clearly exhausted and shaken by the grueling experience.
Aston Martin faced a difficult weekend overall, with both drivers encountering significant setbacks. Alonso’s teammate, Lance Stroll, failed to start the race due to an issue during the formation lap, adding to the team’s woes. Alonso later described his race as a “nightmare” filled with mechanical issues, including erratic braking problems that affected his control, especially after race restarts. Yet, he insisted on completing the race as a tribute to the mechanics who worked hard to prepare his car after the qualifying crash.
Prior to the Brazilian GP, Alonso’s health had already been a concern. He missed Thursday’s media sessions to return to Europe for specialist treatment for an intestinal infection, which had impacted his physical condition. Despite extensive preparation and medical attention, he endured persistent pain during the race. He admitted that, under different circumstances, he would likely have retired early, but he persevered to honor his mechanics’ efforts.
Additionally, Alonso said he felt a personal responsibility to push through for the people of Valencia, where devastating floods had recently occurred. This gesture of solidarity added another layer of determination to his performance. The demanding race ultimately took a toll on his body, setting back his recovery, and he now plans to undergo additional rest and treatment before the upcoming events. Alonso remained optimistic about improving his physical condition and performance as he and Aston Martin prepared for the remaining races of the season.